Each year on 24th April, millions of cricket fans across the globe role out tributes to celebrate the birthday of Indian batting legend, Sachin Tendulkar. However, the little master was not alone as a few years later, another iconic cricketer was born on the same date – Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza 🇿🇼.
Probably the most talented cricketer to have represented this African nation, Raza has scored 4 international centuries and picked up two 5-wicket hauls in 149 international games. The star cricketer who has entertained crowds across the world turns 34 years old today and Read Scoops thought it’s our chance now to entertain his fans, with ’34 Questions on Sikandar Raza’s 34th Birthday!’ 🥳🍹
- Most special franchise team till date? My domestic team Matebeleland Tuskers
- Favourite moment of your career? Test debut against Pakistan (2013)
- Darkest moment of your career? World Cup Qualifier loss to UAE (lost by 3 runs by DLS method)
- If you could be re-born as another cricketer, who would it be? Be myself again
- Your favourite cheat meal? I don’t do cheat meals ❌
- International bowler you’re petrified of? All part-timers
- Cricketer we’d find most often on your WhatsApp? Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, PJ Moor, Timycen Maruma
- 3 new things you’ve learnt during the COVID-19 lockdown? Social distancing, fitness routine, chilling
- 3 things you can’t do without when on tour? Phone, chargers, toiletries 🧴
- If you could be a superhero, which would you pick? Superman
- Zimbabwe teammate who won’t stop talking on the team bus? Regis Chakabva
- Favourite teammates across franchises? Ravi Bopara, Shoaib Malik, Rayad Emrit, Dasun Shanaka
- 3 international cricketers you adore? Rohan Mustafa, Imran Tahir, and Tatenda Taibu for their fascinating stories
- Early memories that made you fall in love with cricket? Saeed Anwar’s square cut, Sachin’s straight drive, Ponting’s pull shot
- One goal you want to complete in your cricket career? Best all-rounder rankings!
- One time you’ve lost your cool on a cricket ground? In Bangladesh with a teammate
- What shot do you play better than anyone in international cricket? “Straight up in the air”
- One birthday gift you’d like to receive today? Bat from Sir Sachin Tendulkar 🏏
- Sikandar Raza the cricketer or Sikandar Raza the father? Father
- From the associate nations, who do you think is the best all-rounder? Rohan Mustafa, Roelof van der Merwe, Richie Berrington
- What show are you binge-watching right now? The Vikings
- Till what age do you see yourself being a professional cricketer? As long as I am fit and performing
- One superstition you follow before big games? I have no superstitions
- If a movie was made on the life of Sikandar Raza, who would you want to play the lead role? Shaan
- Food you miss the most when on tour? Homemade food 🥘🍜
- When on YouTube, what videos do you like to watch? Funny videos
- If you weren’t a cricketer, what would you be? Businessman
- If you get knocked down by a bowler, what would you do? Stand up
- Most iconic Zimbabwe cricketer of all time? For me, Grant Flower and Tatenda Taibu
- Favourite non-cricketing sportsperson? Muhammad Ali 🥊
- Biggest prankster teammate you’ve had till date? Has to be myself
- One singer/band you’d like to see playing live? Not into music much, but Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan would be the one
- Rank the ‘Fab 4’ in terms of batting ability! Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Joe Root
- One word to describe what it feels to be 34? Alhamdulillah
It’s always a pleasure to speak to Sikandar Raza and I hope you had fun reading these honest and quirky answers to the questions we threw at him. International cricket seems to have hit the pause button at the moment because of the coronavirus pandemic but we know that Raza is raring to get out there and continue doing what he does best. Happy birthday Sikandar Raza! 🎁🎉🎂
