Sikandar Raza praises Shafique, Babar and Fakhar

Zimbabwe's T20 captain predicts Pak, India to be among CT semifinalists

DUBAI:

Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe's T20I captain, showered high praise on Pakistan's star players Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan.

He also highlighted their immense talent and potential to shine across all formats of cricket.

Speaking about Abdullah Shafique, Raza said, "I'm praying really hard for Abdullah to find form because he is going to be a big, big superstar in all forms of the game. Especially in the longer format, he's going to be very consistent, and he's going to win Pakistan a lot of games."

The Zimbabwean all-rounder also expressed his admiration for Babar Azam, stating that what Babar has done for Pakistan cricket is remarkable. "Sometimes, it's disheartening to see how quickly people turn on players. But someone like Babar deserves all the respect. He has consistently delivered for Pakistan at the highest level," Raza added.

Discussing Fakhar Zaman, Raza recounted a personal moment. "Fakhar Bhai texted me once, he was upset that I didn't inform him that I was in Dubai. Later, we patched things up. The bond we share from Lahore Qalandars and international cricket has brought us closer. Fakhar is not just a great player but also a great friend," Raza added.

Raza concluded by emphasizing the importance of supporting players during challenging times. "Every player goes through ups and downs, but these boys deserve respect and patience from everyone," he remarked.

Raza predicts CT semi-finalists

Sikandar Raza has tipped Pakistan and India as strong contenders for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, set to be held in Pakistan. In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Raza shared his predictions and insights on the tournament's top teams while also reflecting on Zimbabwe's recent performances.

"I think Pakistan and India will do well in the Champions Trophy. Both teams have the quality and the talent to dominate in this format," Raza said. He highlighted Pakistan's youthful squad, expressing confidence in their ability to achieve great success. "I know it's a work in progress with this young team, but they've shown they can win, especially at home," he added.

Discussing other potential semifinalists, Raza acknowledged the depth and experience of Australia. "You can't write off Australia. They recently won the World Cup in India, and their experience in such tournaments makes them a threat," he noted. Raza further stated that his picks for the semifinals would include Pakistan, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

Turning his focus to Zimbabwe, Raza expressed satisfaction with their performance in 2024, particularly in T20 cricket. "Zimbabwe's cricket performance has been satisfying, especially in the T20 format.