Zimbabwe Cricket rewards Sikandar Raza after ICC Men's T20 Cricketer of the Year nomination

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza is set to receive a reward of US$10,000 from Zimbabwe Cricket in recognition of his outstanding performances in the previous year. This comes after his nomination for the prestigious ICC Men's T20 Cricketer of the Year 2023.

Raza, nominated for the second consecutive year, showcased an impressive performance, amassing 515 runs with a highest score of 82*, boasting an average of 51.50. Additionally, he claimed 17 wickets at an economy rate of 6.57 and demonstrated his fielding prowess with eight catches in the T20I format.

The ICC (International Cricket Council), on January 3, released the initial shortlists for the ICC Awards 2023, featuring exceptional candidates vying for Men's and Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year Awards, as well as Emerging Men's and Women's Cricketer of the Year Awards.

Raza faces tough competition from contenders like Suryakumar Yadav, who is seeking his second consecutive prize, along with New Zealand's Mark Chapman and Uganda's Alpesh Ramjani. Ramjani has contributed significantly to Uganda's historic qualification for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup later this year.

Notably, Raza narrowly missed out on multiple awards last year and is hoping for the best this time. Despite being shortlisted for the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year, ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year, and the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year, he fell short as Babar Azam claimed both the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and the Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year. In the 2022 T20I awards, Suryakumar clinched the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year, while England's Ben Stokes secured the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year. 

“This is in recognition of Raza’s achievements in 2023 season. We thought with his achievements and what he has done throughout the season, he deserved recognition from the company. He scored runs, he has taken wickets and he has led from the front and I think it’s only befitting,” ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni was quoted as saying by The Herald.

“I’m just speechless; I wasn’t expecting this… I owe this country a lot and I think that is my biggest motivation. This country has given me a home, fame love, everything I could possibly wish and ask for. So the fire that you see in me is because I want to return that but nothing that I do on the cricket park or outside the cricket park would ever be enough but I’m trying my hardest to return something to the people that have accepted me as one of their own,” said Raza.