Pakistan-born wannabe fighter pilot Raza flies high for Zimbabwe / Photo: DAVID GRAY - AFP
-
New Bay of Bengal low may form November 13 as Tamil Nadu outlook remains unclear
-
एलेक्स बोडी और SCANDIC PAY: Mastercard और VISA कार्ड — भुगतान की नई पीढ़ी
-
ALEX BODI och SCANDIC PAY: Mastercard- och VISA-kort – en ny generation betalningar
-
АЛЕКС БОДИ и SCANDIC PAY: карти Mastercard и VISA — ново поколение разплащания
-
알렉스 보디와 SCANDIC PAY: Mastercard·VISA 카드를 통한 차세대 결제
-
أليكس بودي وSCANDIC PAY: بطاقات Mastercard وVISA — جيل جديد من المدفوعات
-
ALEX BODIとSCANDIC PAY：Mastercard・VISAカードによる新世代の決済
-
ALEX BODI 與 SCANDIC PAY：Mastercard 與 VISA 卡——新一代支付方式
-
ALEX BODI a SCANDIC PAY: karty Mastercard a VISA – nová generace plateb
-
ΑΛΕΞ ΜΠΟΝΤΙ και SCANDIC PAY: κάρτες Mastercard και VISA — μια νέα γενιά πληρωμών
-
ALEX BODI i SCANDIC PAY: karty Mastercard i VISA — nowa generacja płatności
-
АЛЕКС БОДІ та SCANDIC PAY: картки Mastercard і VISA — нове покоління платежів
-
АЛЕКС БОДИ и SCANDIC PAY: карты Mastercard и VISA — новое поколение платежей
-
ALEX BODI and SCANDIC PAY: Mastercard and VISA Cards – A New Generation of Payments
-
ALEX BODI și SCANDIC PAY: Cardurile Mastercard și VISA – o nouă generație de plăți
-
Everglades Restoration Accelerates Amid Calls for Clearer Success Metrics
-
Manchester United Executives Meet in Monaco as Michael Carrick’s Future Hangs in Balance
-
انخفاض طفيف على درجات الحرارة اليوم وغدًا ارتفاع آخر
-
The Dilemma of Recording Live Music: Preserving Memories vs. Being Present
-
دراسة دنماركية: القهوة تحسن صحة الجهاز الهضمي وتنوع البكتيريا
-
الجبهة الشعبية وحماس تبحثان التطورات السياسية وتعزيز الوحدة الوطنية
Pakistan-born wannabe fighter pilot Raza flies high for Zimbabwe
Sikandar Raza failed a test for Pakistan's air force but was flying high on Thursday after playing a central role in Zimbabwe's shock Twenty20 World Cup win over the country of his birth.
The 36-year-old all-rounder was born in Pakistan and had wanted to be a pilot, but he was rejected and his family later emigrated to Zimbabwe.
He went on to pursue his higher education in Scotland.
But cricket was his calling and he played domestic cricket in Zimbabwe before making the national side in 2013.
Raza said that he had learnt the game the hard way.
"I picked up cricket late and maybe making up for lost time," he said.
It is the same for his adopted country.
"For Zimbabweans most of the learning is on the job," the mild-mannered Raza added.
"We don't get to play top nations a lot, we don't get to play under lights a lot. This was my first game at Perth."
Raza has been in top form with the bat and turned hero with the ball in Perth to return figures of 3-25 as his Zimbabwe side edged out Pakistan by one run in a World Cup thriller.
Zimbabwe moved to third in a group led by India and put Pakistan in danger of an early exit.
Raza said afterwards that praise from Australian great Ricky Ponting inspired him to deliver on the biggest stage of all.
Former Australia captain Ponting had spoken highly of Zimbabwe and picked out Raza in a recent clip posted by the International Cricket Council.
"He is 36 but he's playing with a more youthful exuberance now. Looks like he is 26 again, he is running around the field, enjoying himself and leading from the front," Ponting said.
Raza said that had been a huge confidence boost.
"When I woke up (this morning) my friend sent me a message and said, 'Have you seen a clip on ICC?' and that was of Ricky Ponting talking about Zimbabwe and me," Raza told reporters.
"Some of my friends and family messaged and said they had a tear in their eye for me. I had goosebumps, one of the greats of this game talking about Zimbabwe and in particular me.
"Not that I needed an extra kick, but if I needed one, that clip did the job for me.
"I wanted to stay clam but at the same time be pumped up for this game."
E.AbuRizq--SF-PST
