Pakistan born Zimbabwe cricketer is excited to play against his nation. As the Zimbabwe Cricket Team has reached Pakistan and is quarantining for seven days, a three-match ODI and T20I series will be started by 30th October. The player said that he has a special bond with the country as his relatives and friends live here. On visiting his homeland, he finds it special to represent Zimbabwe.
Discussing the ICC World Cup 2019, he said that no one in the universe can understand their pain for not being a qualifier just by a margin of two runs. After winning the series, he and his team aim for directly being qualified for the next edition of the mega-event other than playing another qualifying game.
Pakistan born Sikandar Raza excited to play against his nation
“I have a special bond with this country, I was born here, my friends and relatives are based here. The more special thing is that I came to Pakistan and I’m representing Zimbabwe in these unprecedented times,” Sikandar said.
“No one can feel the pain of not qualifying for the World Cup as we couldn’t qualify for the (2019) World Cup by a margin of two runs,” he added.
“Not just Pakistan series but every series is important for us because our long-term target is not to play in qualifiers again. We want to make sure we qualify directly to the World Cup,” he maintained.
Squad for Pakistan: Babar Azam (C), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Abid Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Rohail Nazir, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Zafar Gohar, Usman Qadir, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Musa Khan
Squad for Zimbabwe: Chamu Chibhabha (c), Faraz Akram, Ryan Burl, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wessely Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Carl Mumba, Richmond Mutumbami, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano, Sean Williams
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It is to be noted that the playing XIs will be chosen later from Pakistan’s 22-member and Zimbabwe’s 20-member squads respectively. Here is the schedule for a three-match T20I and ODI series to be winded up at Rawalpindi and Lahore respectively.
20 Oct – Zimbabwe arrival in Islamabad
21-27 Oct – Isolation period & practice
28-29 Oct – Practice at Pindi Cricket Stadium
30 Oct – 1st ODI, Pindi Cricket Stadium
1 Nov – 2nd ODI, Pindi Cricket Stadium
3 Nov – 3rd ODI Pindi Cricket Stadium
4 Nov – Travel to Lahore
5-6 Nov – Practice at Gaddafi Stadium
7 Nov – 1st T20I Gaddafi Stadium
8 Nov – 2nd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium
10 Nov – 3rd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium
12 Nov – Zimbabwe departure for Harare
