By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe cricket celebrated a landmark moment on Sunday as veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza etched his name into the nation’s sporting history by becoming the country’s most-capped international cricketer, surpassing one of Zimbabwe’s greatest cricketing figures, Hamilton Masakadza.
The historic achievement came during Zimbabwe’s narrow four-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the decisive third and final T20 International at Queens Sports Club, where Raza made his 314th international appearance across all formats, eclipsing Masakadza’s long-standing record of 313 matches.
Bangladesh chased down Zimbabwe’s 143/7 to finish on 144/6 with two balls remaining, sealing the three-match T20I series 2-1 after the teams had shared the opening two encounters.
The occasion carried remarkable symbolism. More than 13 years after making his international debut against Bangladesh at the same Queens Sports Club on 3 May 2013, Raza reached the unprecedented milestone against the very same opponents and at the same venue where his remarkable international journey began.
Zimbabwe Cricket honoured the 39-year-old before the match in recognition of his outstanding service to the national team, with former captain Hamilton Masakadza – whose record Raza surpassed – joining in the presentation.
Although Zimbabwe fell just short in the series decider, the day belonged to Raza, whose extraordinary longevity, consistency, and commitment have made him one of the finest cricketers ever to wear the Chevrons uniform.
Since earning his maiden international cap in 2013, Raza has featured in 22 Test matches, 156 One-Day Internationals, and 136 Twenty20 Internationals, becoming a pillar of Zimbabwean cricket across every format. His career has been defined by match-winning all-round performances, inspirational leadership and an unwavering determination that has seen him emerge as one of the world’s leading all-rounders in white-ball cricket.
Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, Raza moved to Zimbabwe in pursuit of higher education before qualifying to represent his adopted country. Initially trained as an engineer, he abandoned that career path to pursue professional cricket, a decision that transformed him into one of Zimbabwe’s greatest sporting success stories.
Over the years, Raza has built a reputation for thriving under pressure. Whether rescuing Zimbabwe from difficult batting situations, delivering crucial breakthroughs with his off-spin or leading the side in the shortest format, he has consistently been among the team’s most influential performers.
His exploits in franchise cricket around the world have also elevated Zimbabwe’s profile on the global stage, with Raza featuring in major T20 leagues across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.
His leadership qualities have equally been recognized, with Zimbabwe Cricket recently retaining him as captain of the national T20 side as the country embarks on a new chapter under fresh leadership across formats.
Sunday’s milestone was made even more special by the presence of Raza’s son during the post-match ceremony. Reflecting on the achievement, the Zimbabwe captain described the surprise recognition from Zimbabwe Cricket and Hamilton Masakadza as memorable, adding that having his son witness the occasion made it even more special.
While the Chevrons were unable to cap the celebration with victory, there were encouraging individual performances. Dion Myers struck an impressive 73 while Brian Bennett contributed 47 to help Zimbabwe post a competitive 143 for seven. Bangladesh, however, were guided home by Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s composed 66 to claim a four-wicket victory and the series.
Despite the disappointing result, Raza’s record-breaking appearance provided a defining moment for Zimbabwean cricket, one that reflects more than a decade of exceptional service, resilience and excellence.
Having rewritten the record books, Sikandar Raza now stands alone as the most-capped player in Zimbabwe’s international cricket history, a fitting tribute to a career that continues to inspire the next generation of Zimbabwean cricketers.
New Ziana
