Sikandar Raza
Encyclopedia
Sikandar Raza Butt is a Pakistani-born Zimbabwean cricketer. Despite being born in Pakistan, he emigrated to Zimbabwe in 2001 along with his family and team-mate Sad Khan. Although there are speculations that Zimbabwe Cricket
brought them to add depth to the Logan Cup
squads. He soon became one of the best batsman in the domestic game and caught the selectorial eye. The only problem was citizenship issues, which was granted in 2011.
in 2007. After the revamping of Zimbabwe's domestic structure in 2009, he went on to play first-class cricket for the Mashonaland Eagles
he himself is a successful first-class cricketer, with a top score of 146.
He also played List A cricket originally for Northerns but later switched to play for Mashonaland Eagles. He made his List A debut in 2007.
He made his Twenty20
debut for the Southern Rocks
in 2010 against the Desert Vipers.
He turned out to be a T20 specialist, and he was the leading run-scorer in the 2010 Stanbic Bank 20 Competition.
In the Metbank Pro40 Championship Final in 2010, he scored a brilliant 44 for Southern Rocks
as they cruised to the title against Mid West Rhinos
. It was the first big performance that caught the selectorial eye. In January 2011, he compiled his career best List-A score of 80.
His performances earned him a place in the preliminary squad for Zimbabwe's 2011 Cricket World Cup
campaign, but did not make it to the final squads. By then he had another fine performance, at the Masvingo Sports Club
where his opening stand of 161 with Chamu Chibhabha simply by bludgeoning the Matabeleland Tuskers
bowlers led the foundation for a massive Southern Rocks
victory.
This made the Zimbabwean selectors select him for the training squad for the Australia A and South Africa A tri-series. The only matter, was he did not have citizenship status, which was granted in September 2011. By then he had another remarkable performance scoring 93 off just 48 balls for Southern Rocks
against Matabeleland Tuskers
in just the previous week's Wednesday in a Twenty20
match. Opening the innings with the legendary West Indian Brian Lara
and then getting great support from Elton Chigumbura
, Raza absolutely tore down the Matabeleland Tuskers
's bowling attack. He then represented a Zimbabwe XI side before the Bangladeshi cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2011
tour started. Zimbabwe XI won the two matches.
Zimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket is the governing body for the sport of cricket in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Cricket is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team, organising Test tours, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals with other nations...
brought them to add depth to the Logan Cup
Logan Cup
The Logan Cup is the premier domestic first-class cricket competition in Zimbabwe. The current champions are the Matabeleland Tusker.-History:...
squads. He soon became one of the best batsman in the domestic game and caught the selectorial eye. The only problem was citizenship issues, which was granted in 2011.
Career
Raza started his career in Zimbabwe in 2007. He made his first-class debut for NorthernsNortherns cricket team (Zimbabwe)
The Northerns cricket team was a first-class cricket team in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 2006 to 2009. The club played their home matches at the Harare Sports Club.-First-class record:...
in 2007. After the revamping of Zimbabwe's domestic structure in 2009, he went on to play first-class cricket for the Mashonaland Eagles
Mashonaland Eagles
The Mashonaland Eagles is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Harare Metropolitan and Mashonaland Central area. They play their home matches at Harare Sports Club in Harare.-Squad:...
he himself is a successful first-class cricketer, with a top score of 146.
He also played List A cricket originally for Northerns but later switched to play for Mashonaland Eagles. He made his List A debut in 2007.
He made his Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
debut for the Southern Rocks
Southern Rocks
The Southern Rocks is one of five Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Masvingo and Matabeleland South area. They play their home matches at Masvingo Sports Club in Masvingo.-Squad:...
in 2010 against the Desert Vipers.
He turned out to be a T20 specialist, and he was the leading run-scorer in the 2010 Stanbic Bank 20 Competition.
In the Metbank Pro40 Championship Final in 2010, he scored a brilliant 44 for Southern Rocks
Southern Rocks
The Southern Rocks is one of five Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Masvingo and Matabeleland South area. They play their home matches at Masvingo Sports Club in Masvingo.-Squad:...
as they cruised to the title against Mid West Rhinos
Mid West Rhinos
The Mid West Rhinos is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Midlands and Mashonaland West area. They play their home matches at Kwekwe Sports Club in Kwekwe....
. It was the first big performance that caught the selectorial eye. In January 2011, he compiled his career best List-A score of 80.
His performances earned him a place in the preliminary squad for Zimbabwe's 2011 Cricket World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
campaign, but did not make it to the final squads. By then he had another fine performance, at the Masvingo Sports Club
Masvingo Sports Club
The Masvingo Sports Club is a cricket venue with first-class status in Masvingo. It is the home ground of to one of Zimbabwe's provincial cricket sides - Southern Rocks. Their cricket ground has been host to several first class, List A and Twenty20 matches....
where his opening stand of 161 with Chamu Chibhabha simply by bludgeoning the Matabeleland Tuskers
Matabeleland Tuskers
The Matabeleland Tuskers is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North area. They play their home matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo....
bowlers led the foundation for a massive Southern Rocks
Southern Rocks
The Southern Rocks is one of five Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Masvingo and Matabeleland South area. They play their home matches at Masvingo Sports Club in Masvingo.-Squad:...
victory.
This made the Zimbabwean selectors select him for the training squad for the Australia A and South Africa A tri-series. The only matter, was he did not have citizenship status, which was granted in September 2011. By then he had another remarkable performance scoring 93 off just 48 balls for Southern Rocks
Southern Rocks
The Southern Rocks is one of five Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Masvingo and Matabeleland South area. They play their home matches at Masvingo Sports Club in Masvingo.-Squad:...
against Matabeleland Tuskers
Matabeleland Tuskers
The Matabeleland Tuskers is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North area. They play their home matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo....
in just the previous week's Wednesday in a Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
match. Opening the innings with the legendary West Indian Brian Lara
Brian Lara
Brian Charles Lara, TC, OCC, AM is a former West Indian international cricket player. Lara is generally regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time...
and then getting great support from Elton Chigumbura
Elton Chigumbura
Elton Chigumbura is a Zimbabwean cricketer currently playing for English county club Northamptonshire. He is a current Zimbabwean international and former captain of the national side, who played 6 Test matches from the age of 18 before Zimbabwe were barred from Test cricket...
, Raza absolutely tore down the Matabeleland Tuskers
Matabeleland Tuskers
The Matabeleland Tuskers is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North area. They play their home matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo....
's bowling attack. He then represented a Zimbabwe XI side before the Bangladeshi cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2011
Bangladeshi cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2011
The Bangladesh cricket team toured Zimbabwe from 4 to 21 August 2011. The tour consisted of one match and five One Day Internationals played against the Zimbabwean national team and one match played against a Zimbabwean representative team. The series was the first time since India toured...
tour started. Zimbabwe XI won the two matches.