Sikandar Raza made a plain‑spoken statement last week: he will call time on his international career after the 2027 ODI World Cup, no ifs or buts.
The 40‑year‑old all‑rounder, who has been Zimbabwe’s ODI and T20I captain, said the chance to play a World Cup on home soil is a blessing he can’t ignore.
When reporters asked if Zimbabwe’s potential spot in the World Test Championship could tempt him to stay, Raza shot back, “Would I be tempted? No.” He added he would never “take my retirement back.”
Yet, Raza is not turning his back on the game entirely. He sees the WTC as a learning platform for Zimbabwe, saying the team might stumble at first but the experience would lift overall performance across formats.
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be co‑hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, and the first match at the new Mosi‑oa‑Tunya International Cricket Stadium will pit Zimbabwe against India on October 24.
With his retirement set, the focus shifts to Zimbabwe’s performance in the tournament and how the experience will shape their future in Test cricket.