Sikandar Raza Eyes Greater Goals For Zimbabwe After Super 8 Qualification in T20 World Cup 2026

Zimbabwe secured Super 8 qualification with a game to spare but Sikandar Raza vowed to chase greater goals in the T20 World Cup 2026.

Sikandar Raza said Zimbabwe are not satisfied with just reaching the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, calling it only “a tick in the box but not the whole box.” The Zimbabwe captain stressed that the team now wants to earn greater respect and recognition on the global stage.

Zimbabwe made a strong start to the tournament with back-to-back wins over Oman and Australia. On Tuesday (February 17), their third match against Ireland was washed out, which took them to five points. That total was more than what Australia and Ireland could achieve mathematically, confirming Zimbabwe’s place in the next round with a game to spare.

“To qualify for Super 8 with a game to spare for the first time in our history is certainly no small achievement. It’s an achievement that our whole country and people should enjoy,” Raza said at the post-match press conference, as quoted by PTI. “Yes, Super 8 is certainly a tick in the box, but it’s certainly not the whole box we set out for. But this is just one of those things we have ticked from the box, but we’ve got other things to achieve and everybody remains committed and focused for that.

“One of the goals we set out for was certainly that we’re going to bring more recognition and respect to our country.”

Zimbabwe will now face South Africa, India and the West Indies in the Super 8 stage. The team will aim for a top-two finish to qualify for their first-ever semi-final in the tournament.

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Raza also spoke about the difficult phase when Zimbabwe had to play in the sub-regional qualifiers due to a drop in their ICC rankings. He said the team had to accept responsibility for their situation.

“I remember when we were told that we have to play the sub-regional Qualifier B in Kenya, I remember sitting down with the squad and said either we feel sorry for ourselves and be ashamed or actually understand the reality. The reality is it is because of us we are in this mess and it’s only us who can get it out, so either we all get together and work towards a singular goal which is to win this tournament, win the qualifiers get to the World Cup and then write our own history and story,” he said.

“And all of us got together and we all unanimously agree that, yes, it is our own fault because we kept most of the same squad. And we said it is because of us and only us can get it out. And yes, our country do deserve more respect and recognition. I took a lot of blame and criticism as a leader,” Raza added.