ZIMBABWE’S premier all-rounder, Sikandar Raza (pictured), reached a monumental career milestone on Wednesday, ascending to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI All-Rounder Rankings.
His rise to the No. 1 spot, a testament to his consistent and impactful performances, places him at the pinnacle of one-day cricket.
The achievement, however, was a moment of personal triumph amidst a collective disappointment as the Chevrons fell to a four-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in the first T20I of the series.
Raza’s recent form has been nothing short of spectacular. In the just-concluded two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, he delivered with both bat and ball.
The 38-year-old maestro’s efforts, which included two half-centuries and a respectable bowling performance of one for 48 in the first ODI, propelled him past Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai.
With a rating of 302, he now leads the pack, a remarkable achievement for a player, who has long been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s team.
His batting prowess also saw him climb nine places to land at number 22 in the ODI Batting Rankings. Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni hailed Raza’s achievement, describing it as a milestone for both the player and the nation.
“We are immensely proud of Sikandar Raza for rising to the very top of the ICC ODI All-Rounder Rankings,” he said.
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“His consistency, resilience and match-winning qualities continue to inspire not only his teammates but the whole of Zimbabwe.”
Makoni also commended the efforts of senior teammate Sean Williams, who rose seven places to number 16 on the ODI All-Rounder Rankings and moved three places up to number 47 in the ODI Batting Rankings.
“Sean Williams has also shown once again why he is such a vital part of our team, with his consistent contributions both with bat and ball,” he said.
“We extend our appreciation to him and indeed the entire squad for their fighting spirit and encouraging displays against Sri Lanka.”
On the bowling front, Richard Ngarava remains Zimbabwe’s highest-ranked bowler, climbing two places to number 20 on the ODI Bowling Rankings, while Raza follows at number 38. As a team, Zimbabwe sit at number 11 on the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings.
Makoni said the latest rankings update reflected a positive trajectory for Zimbabwe cricket. “These rankings movements show that our players are competing hard at the highest level,” he said.
“While results did not go our way against Sri Lanka, the individual performances point to a promising future as we continue building towards greater success.”
While Raza celebrated his personal success, the mood was sombre at the Harare Sports Club as Zimbabwe went down to Sri Lanka in the first T20I.
Despite posting a competitive total of 175 for 7, the hosts could not defend their score, with the visitors reaching the target with five balls to spare. Sikandar Raza himself had a relatively modest outing with the bat, managing just 28 runs off 22 balls.
The highlight of the Zimbabwean innings was a brilliant knock from opener Brian Bennett, who etched his name into the record books. The 27-year-old right-hander top-scored with a fluent 81 off 57 balls, becoming the player with the highest T20I score among full ICC members without hitting a six.
His innings, a masterclass of placement and timing, was laced with 12 boundaries and provided the foundation for Zimbabwe’s total.
Bennett’s score surpassed the previous record held by South Africa’s Faf du Plessis (79 vs Bangladesh) and Pakistan’s Babar Azam (79 vs New Zealand), placing him in a unique category of esteemed batsmen.
Despite Bennett’s heroic effort and Raza’s newfound status as the world’s top all-rounder, the team’s collective performance was not enough to secure a victory.
The loss highlights the dual narrative of Zimbabwean cricket: individual brilliance often overshadowed by team struggles.
As the series progresses, all eyes will be on whether Raza can use his newfound ranking as a catalyst to inspire his teammates and turn the team’s fortunes around.
The second T20i is scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue with Zimbabwe looking to save the series while the final match takes place on Sunday.
