The Sunday News
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN all-rounder, Sikandar Raza has been awarded a piece of land in Pakistan, the country where he was born after his heroics in Lahore Qalandars’ 17 runs triumph over Quetta Gladiators last Thursday in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
For his unbeaten 71 runs off 34 balls after coming in to bat at number seven with his team struggling on 47/6, Raza put up a deserving Player of the Match award display for him to receive the big award from his team. The owners of Lahore are rewarding the players for their performance and gifting them an iPhone and a piece of land in the city.
Sikandar Raza with his awards
His teammate and Afghanistan star, Rashid Khan was awarded an iPhone 14 for his performance in the match that saw Qalandars go two points clear at the top of the standings before they faced the Andy Flower coached Multan Sultans yesterday. Haris Rauf got an award of Starlet shoes for the whole year.
“Sikandar Bhai, for your unbelievable performance, I won’t call it wonderful because this was really and simply unbelievable so obviously you have won yourself a plot in Qalandar City,” said one of the team owners after the match.
The Zimbabwean stalwart’s brilliant innings consisted of eight fours and three sixes, striking at 208,82 percent. Batting down the order, Raza was supported by Rashid Khan who made 21 runs off 20 deliveries and the skipper, Shaheen Shah Afridi whose contribution was 16 runs in as many balls.
Raza has been one of the best performers in this year’s edition of the PSL for the defending champions who are looking set to go all the way once again this season. Before yesterday’s match, Raza had in six matches and five innings scored 163 runs with a high score of 71 not out and has also taken three wickets.
The 36-year-old Raza was born in Pakistan before his family migrated to Zimbabwe when he was a teenager. He qualified to play for Zimbabwe in 2013. – @brandon_malvin
