Colombo, Feb 19 – Sikandar Raza emphasized belief, preparation, and fearlessness after leading Zimbabwe to another impressive victory over Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, stating that their unbeaten run reflects the team’s growing confidence and resilience, and that everyone wants to see “underdogs” succeed.
The Zimbabwe captain, who was named Player of the Match following his decisive all-round performance at the R. Premadasa Stadium, revealed that he trusted his rhythm even after a cautious start in the chase.
“When I walked out there, I thought the openers had laid a solid foundation. And I think when Ryan Burl also came out, we tried to change the momentum. Unfortunately, he got out too. After the first eight balls, I told myself, ‘I’ve only managed four or five runs, but I can see the ball clearly, and I’m hitting it well.’ So from then on, I believed that if I found a good ball, I could hit it for distance. That’s all it was,” he said during the post-match presentation.
The Zimbabwe skipper explained that once he found momentum, he focused on calculated aggression to keep the chase under control, saying, “Once I connected with one ball, it was about just continuing. In my mind, I was trying to be strategic, not over-attacking. We needed to score 20 runs in an over, which we did. After that, it was about aiming for 9s, then 8s, and finally 6s. Ideally, I wanted to finish the game, but we can take it.”
He also praised his batting partner Brian Bennett, highlighting the young player’s composure and maturity under pressure.
“I kept telling Benny (Brian Bennett) that if he could find a good ball, he should hit it for a boundary. Otherwise, it’s very important that he stays at the crease. I felt like I might have let him down at the start, but I’m starting to find my rhythm, so please just stay focused. If you stay at one end, we can win the game from the other end. Credit to Benny, he’s doing a great job, and I think he’ll get even better with every game. I’m really looking forward to seeing him develop,” he stated.
Raza reflected on Zimbabwe’s unbeaten campaign with pride, but admitted that his mindset is always focused on the future.
“I’m very proud of how Zimbabwe has performed. Every game we’ve played, we’ve won, and we’re still unbeaten so far. For me, it’s always about the next game. While I want to enjoy the victory, my mind is always focused on what’s ahead. Sometimes, it’s challenging to stay present. But I think it’s a good position to be in as a captain. I’ll try to enjoy this moment, but let’s see what happens. It’s a good position to be in as a captain. I’ll try to enjoy this moment, but let’s see what happens,” Raza added.
Despite the success, Raza stressed that Zimbabwe remains focused on improvement and maintaining their momentum.
“We can always get better. We can win the first game of the Super Eight – it’s always possible. We keep our eyes on the future. But if I focus on the present, the effort the players have shown over the past two weeks, I don’t think anyone expected us to be where we are. So, winning people’s hearts and earning their respect is a wonderful position to be in,” he noted.
He also made it clear that Zimbabwe’s mindset remains unchanged regardless of match situations, including the toss, saying, “When we lost the toss, I told my players: If we’re playing good cricket, why should the toss matter so much? If we’re playing good cricket, it’s what it is.”
Raza credited Zimbabwe’s tactical clarity and preparation for their ability to adapt during tense moments, as he said, “I’m really happy. I think that’s because, firstly, we’ve prepared for every possible situation. When you’re chasing, everything is already clear. And we have the right players to be in the right positions at the right time. We actually changed our batting order about four times during the chase.”
With Zimbabwe now firmly establishing themselves as one of the tournament’s surprise packages, Raza reiterated the belief driving their campaign. “But just getting to this point unbeaten is something we can be proud of. And if we can win two out of those three remaining games, then anything is possible. As I always say – everyone loves a good underdog story,” he concluded.
