National T20 Cup: Zimbabwe’s Raza to play for Lahore Whites
All-rounder invited by skipper Akmal to replace Yousuf
Raza hopes that his arrival can inspire other foreign players to come and play cricket in Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza will be representing Lahore Whites when the second leg of the ongoing National T20 Cup kicks off at the Multan Cricket Stadium today.
Raza, who was born in Sialkot before emigrating to Zimbabwe in 2001, will be replacing batsman Shahid Yousuf, who left for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. The right-hander was invited by Lahore Whites skipper Kamran Akmal.
“I took this step keeping in view that in the past many players who played county cricket in England also participated in domestic matches in Pakistan,” Akmal told The Express Tribune. “After considering Raza, I asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for permission and they were happy to oblige.”
Karachi Whites claim vital win
Akmal further added that the addition of a foreign player would increase interest in the ongoing T20 league. “The National T20 Cup is being televised live and when people see a foreign player playing, they will hopefully be interested and will come to the stadium to watch the matches.”
Raza, meanwhile, thanked Akmal and the PCB for giving him an opportunity to play in Pakistan. “It feels great to play in the land where you were born,” he said. “I am thankful to both the PCB and Akmal for making this possible.”
Raza further added that he hoped that other foreign players would, in the future, follow his lead in playing cricket in Pakistan, which has been unable to host any international matches following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009.
The spokesperson for Lahore Whites, meanwhile, revealed that Raza would be playing as a guest-player for the Lahore outfit.
Peshawar make it four wins in four
‘Injury forced me to leave tournament, not T20 snub’
Lahore Blues skipper Ahmad Shahzad denied rumours which had claimed that the opener had left the National T20 Cup after learning that he did not make the T20 squad for the lone T20I against England.
“These are all rumours and fake news. I have been in rehabilitation process for the last two days at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore,” he told The Express Tribune.
Shahzad leaves National T20 Cup after omission from Pakistan squad
Reports had emerged in the media after some of Shahzad’s teammates claimed that the news of him not making the Pakistan T20I squad had saddened the 24-year-old, who then chose to leave for Lahore after informing the management.
However, Shahzad brushed aside all such notions and cited injury as the reason for his departure.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2016.
Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza will be representing Lahore Whites when the second leg of the ongoing National T20 Cup kicks off at the Multan Cricket Stadium today.
Raza, who was born in Sialkot before emigrating to Zimbabwe in 2001, will be replacing batsman Shahid Yousuf, who left for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. The right-hander was invited by Lahore Whites skipper Kamran Akmal.
“I took this step keeping in view that in the past many players who played county cricket in England also participated in domestic matches in Pakistan,” Akmal told The Express Tribune. “After considering Raza, I asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for permission and they were happy to oblige.”
Karachi Whites claim vital win
Akmal further added that the addition of a foreign player would increase interest in the ongoing T20 league. “The National T20 Cup is being televised live and when people see a foreign player playing, they will hopefully be interested and will come to the stadium to watch the matches.”
Raza, meanwhile, thanked Akmal and the PCB for giving him an opportunity to play in Pakistan. “It feels great to play in the land where you were born,” he said. “I am thankful to both the PCB and Akmal for making this possible.”
Raza further added that he hoped that other foreign players would, in the future, follow his lead in playing cricket in Pakistan, which has been unable to host any international matches following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009.
The spokesperson for Lahore Whites, meanwhile, revealed that Raza would be playing as a guest-player for the Lahore outfit.
Peshawar make it four wins in four
‘Injury forced me to leave tournament, not T20 snub’
Lahore Blues skipper Ahmad Shahzad denied rumours which had claimed that the opener had left the National T20 Cup after learning that he did not make the T20 squad for the lone T20I against England.
“These are all rumours and fake news. I have been in rehabilitation process for the last two days at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore,” he told The Express Tribune.
Shahzad leaves National T20 Cup after omission from Pakistan squad
Reports had emerged in the media after some of Shahzad’s teammates claimed that the news of him not making the Pakistan T20I squad had saddened the 24-year-old, who then chose to leave for Lahore after informing the management.
However, Shahzad brushed aside all such notions and cited injury as the reason for his departure.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2016.