Sikandar Raza thanks fans, family and teammates after achieving important milestone

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza reached a career milestone by claiming the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI all-rounder rankings for the first time, marking a historic achievement. His consistent performances have finally earned him this well-deserved recognition on the international stage.

Sikandar Raza’s stellar performance against Sri Lanka in Harare proved vital in his rise. The seasoned all-rounder excelled with both bat and ball, showcasing his match-winning skills and leading Zimbabwe strongly in the series. His impactful displays not only helped Zimbabwe stay in the contest but also boosted his individual ranking points significantly.

For years, Raza has been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s limited-overs side, anchoring the middle order and delivering breakthroughs with the ball. This landmark moment underlines his immense value and dedication to the team, while also highlighting his reputation as one of the finest all-rounders currently active in world cricket.

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Sikandar Raza Achieves Highest Feat in His Cricketing Career:

At 39, Sikandar Raza proved his class once again with a match-winning performance in the two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. He scored 92 runs in the first game and followed it with an unbeaten 59 in the second, also chipping in with a crucial wicket.

These efforts lifted him to the top of the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings, moving past Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi, who sit in second and third place, respectively. Previously, Raza’s highest ranking was second, achieved in December 2023, making this a career-best achievement for the Zimbabwe veteran.

Sikandar Raza reached a career-best all-rounder rating of 302, overtaking Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai (296) and Mohammad Nabi (292). His excellent batting also lifted him nine spots in the ODI batting charts to 22nd. Additionally, he climbed one place in the bowling rankings, now occupying the 38th position, underlining his all-round impact for Zimbabwe.

Sikandar Raza Thanks Everyone for His Success:

After securing this milestone, Sikandar Raza expressed heartfelt gratitude to his fans, family, friends, and teammates for their constant support. He shared his appreciation through a social media post, acknowledging their role in his journey and celebrating the achievement with those who stood by him.

He wrote, “ Firstly Alhamdulillah. Now the emotions have settled I would like to thank Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 , Zimbabwe Cricket and Zimbabweans for their unwavering love , support and prayers as without it this dream of mine wouldn’t have been possible.”

He further wrote, “ To my team mates past and present of national team and franchise cricket , this wouldn’t have been possible without the lessons you all shared. To my family and fans all across the globe for the prayers and support I have had over the years. Always Alhamdulillah #VisitZimbabwe”