Zim GBC Sports News<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KANDY, Sri Lanka \u2014 Zimbabwe will seek to extend their perfect start at the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 when they face Ireland at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with captain Sikandar Raza urging his side to remain grounded after consecutive wins over Oman and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Raza said there had been no shift in mindset despite the global attention generated by the victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we ever left earth anyway, because we know this is just part of the journey we came on and the goals we set,\u201d Raza said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe briefly celebrated their historic win over Australia with traveling supporters and family but quickly turned their attention to the Irish challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe always knew there\u2019s a next game and that becomes the most important game,\u201d Raza stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHopefully we get a good result and then the next game becomes the most important game. The victories we\u2019ve had so far will count for nothing, especially if there\u2019s a slip-up now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Chevrons trained at Pallekele on Monday, assessing conditions Raza described as distinct from other venues used in the tournament so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a look at the wicket. We understand the wicket in Kandy is slightly different,\u201d the skipper explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe understand the different challenges that come with the wicket \u2013 the altitude, the travelling of the ball, how the ball comes on \u2013 and the notes we\u2019ve made from past experiences. In my head, the picture becomes clearer the closer we get to the game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe\u2019s fast bowlers have driven the early success, with the pace trio of Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans applying sustained pressure with the new ball and at the death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been good for a long time. It has taken us a long time to get the combinations right,\u201d Raza acknowledged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been on this journey for the last 18-odd months, trying different combinations, and when we found what we think will help us and suit us in these conditions, we stuck with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On seamer Brad Evans, who has made a remarkable return from injury, Raza was effusive in his praise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBrad was injured, but he came back and has taken on that role as a third seamer with performances I don\u2019t think I can even sum up in words,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe has been a real addition \u2013 a great addition \u2013 to our bowling line-up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raza said he hopes the seamers can sustain their form throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m praying and hoping they will keep having more success as the tournament goes on,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a Super Eight place now within reach, Zimbabwe face a different kind of pressure, but the captain is embracing the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lovely position to be in,\u201d Raza said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine, we\u2019ve had two results. Fine, the world is talking about Zimbabwe. It\u2019s great. But let them do all the talking for us. The next game becomes the most important game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raza described ICC tournaments as mentally demanding, offering a unique test of character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe beauty of these ICC events is that every game practically feels like a knockout game,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great for our mental toughness and growth as well \u2013 how well we handle our own expectations rather than what the world wants from us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also reflected on the broader significance of performing on cricket\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cICC events change lives in every way \u2013 whether that\u2019s recognition, fame, financial reward or respect,\u201d Raza said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce you do well, irrespective of which country you represent, you get recognition and everything that comes with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe are aiming to build on their progress and create history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHopefully we can keep writing our own history and go further than we ever have before,\u201d Raza stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat means we\u2019ll achieve what we want to achieve and get more recognition and the respect we\u2019re here for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continuity has been central to Zimbabwe\u2019s resurgence, with the leadership sticking by the core group through difficult periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have stuck with the same side for a long time,\u201d Raza revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce we identified that these are the boys who are going to take us forward, the selection panel, the board and the captain took a lot of stick at times as well. But we knew this group of boys is the way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clear roles have brought stability to the dressing room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow the roles are clear to everybody \u2013 whether you\u2019re a bowler, a batter, a finisher, top-order or middle-order,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce you have that clarity, I think it calms us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe face a tight schedule in Sri Lanka\u2019s demanding tropical conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe advantage is that when you\u2019re winning, the flow is there and you want to play again and again,\u201d Raza admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe disadvantage is that in these conditions the body doesn\u2019t recover as well. Playing in these ICC tournaments is not just about the battle of skills. It\u2019s also about the conditions, the weather and the travelling. There are pros and cons, and it\u2019s happening to every team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And on scheduling, Raza offered a simple preference for the days ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe would just prefer to keep winning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Zim GBC News | Global News From An African Perspective\u00a9\ufe0f2026<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Zim GBC Sports News KANDY, Sri Lanka \u2014 Zimbabwe will seek to extend their perfect start at the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 when they face Ireland at the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12267"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12269,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12267\/revisions\/12269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}