The Sunday Mail
FOR Sikandar Raza what matters most is producing great performances in Zimbabwe colours, even it is against his country of birth.
Scoring a maiden Test fifty in his international debut against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club in 2013 proved it.
However, what awaits him is a test of another nature as the batsman returns to the country it all started seeking to power Zimbabwe to a series victory over the hosts.
“A lot of emphasis has been put on the fact that I was born in Pakistan and I will be playing against my birth country, but having said that there are two ways to look at it,” the batsman told The Sunday Mail last week.
“The way I look at it is I am playing for Zimbabwe . . . I have done it for so long, two years and it doesn’t matter who you play against , give them the respect that they deserve that’s about it.”
Raza’s family relocated to Zimbabwe in 2003 after his father decided to explore business opportunities in the country.
The 28 -year-old cricketer has developed a strong attachment to Zimbabwe.
“You never forget who you are playing for and that’s Zimbabwe for me, to me it’s just another game playing against Pakistan.
“I am humbled by the opportunity, and if I play that’s how it’s going to be just another game,” said the batsman who has played against Pakistan three times (twice in ODIs and once in a Test), since making his international debut.
But this will be his first time to face them at home.
“For me performing against any other nation is the main motive,” Raza said.
“But if you really have to add an extra spice to your story, yes (I would love to perform well against them) because I have got a lot of friends there,” he said.
Any cricketing memories from Pakistan? “In Pakistan it was street cricket and playing with my friends and cousins, playing on the roof tops.
“I then went to Scotland, I didn’t play cricket the first year but only played the second year. “I never played any sort of professional cricket in Pakistan, but I have so many good friends and hopefully those relationships will last for a long time.
“Those friends are all in contact with me I can assure you. Put it this way, they might come asking for a ticket from me but come and support Pakistan. It still wouldn’t bother me, it’s good humour . . . but deep inside I know they will be supporting and praying for me to do well,” he said.
