Sikandar Raza speaks on Pakistan series

Sport
THERE is no better way of integrating into a new society than learning its language and culture.

THERE is no better way of integrating into a new society than learning its language and culture.

BY ALBERT MARUFU

Pakistan-born Zimbabwe cricketer Sikandar “Sykes” Raza seems to have grasped this statement, Gara zvako nepapa mukomana (take a seat), magnanimously said the United Kingdom-educated Raza after an exchange of formal greetings.

Raza, who was born in Punjab, Pakistan in 1986, but immigrated to Zimbabwe in 2001 with his parents at the age of 15, appeared quite relaxed during the interview with Standardsport recently.

His Shona, though spoken with an accent, was good enough to shame our “nose brigades”.

“I am sorry I am a bit late for the interview,” he added comfortably switching to English while waiting for my response.

What followed was an affable comment on his multilingual ability to which he responded: “I know a number of languages ranging from Arabic, English, Urdu, Punjab, Hindu and now Shona. My teammates have been teaching me Shona.”

It was that easiness that he showed at the crease on his debut Test, albeit against his country of birth, as he shared an impressive 127-run fourth wicket partnership stand with Malcolm Waller.

The soft spoken star, who affectionately referred to Zimbabwe as “Zim” throughout the interview, further contributed 24 runs in the second innings and sadly he ended up on the losing side.

However, Raza was dropped for the second Test, making way for Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, who had missed the first Test following the birth of his first child on the eve of the match.

Zimbabwe went on to win the second Test and level the two match series.

“I knew that winning the game would need more than my 60 runs. Unfortunately, I could not manage to add on to those runs. Now that Zim won the second Test, I am very happy,” he said.

“I don’t have ill feelings on being dropped for the second Test because it happens in every professional cricketer’s career. It’s not a big deal at all. The good thing is that we won the second Test.”

But how does he feel scoring runs against his country of birth? “Everyone is asking me that question and they are making a big deal out of it. To me, it is just the same joy I get after scoring runs against any country,” he said. “I do not care who I am playing for or against. All I care about is that I am playing for Zimbabwe and I have a badge on my shirt.”

Raza is not alone in the league of cricketers who have in the past come face to face with their countries of birth, with England’s South African born problem child Kevin Petersen and Zimbabwe born Graham Hick leading the cast.

Despite growing up in Punjab, a cricket-mad city, Raza never thought he would play international cricket, as he wanted to pursue his grandfather’s dream of seeing him attain a university degree.

“It was all about education. My grandfather Muhammad Butt told me that the next generations starting with me should be educated,” he said.

Despite his growing stature in sport, his inspiration remains his family’s happiness. “Seeing my family happy drives me to perform better,” said Raza (27), who is married to Aqsa and the two have a three-month-old boy, Muhammand Eeesa.

Raza announced his arrival on the domestic cricket circuit after finishing as the leading run scorer in the 2010 Stanbic Twenty20 competition.

His major highlight during the tournament was sharing a 98-run partnership with legendary ex-West Indies batsman Brian Lara, who contributed just 11 in the stand while Raza stole the limelight.

In the Metbank Pro40 Championship Final later that year, 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 selectors’ eye, and it was not long before he was called up to the preliminary squad for Zimbabwe’s 2011 Cricket World Cup campaign.

Although Raza did not make it to the final squad, he would make his long-awaited international debut in May against Bangladesh.

How did raza discover his talent?

It was while studying towards a Bsc Computer Software Engineering degree at Scotland’s Glasgow Caledonian University that he discovered his cricketing strength.

“I am not using the educational qualification, but completing the degree programme gave me a sense of achievement. It made me aware that if I commit myself to doing something, I can finish it. That is the same spirit I go into battle with,” he said.

“I am happy that I have played at every level of the game. My best moments in the game are yet to come. I am glad that I have managed to get all three caps — Test debut, ODI and the T20 all in one year.

“Waiting to play for Zimbabwe was frustrating, but I’m happy it is water under the bridge now,” said Raza who is currently playing in the Dhaka Premier League for Kalabagan Cricket Academy in Bangladesh.