Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe’s skipper and leading allrounder, has agreed to join Northamptonshire for the 2024 T20 Blast, his first involvement in England’s T20 competition. Raza, now listed as the fifth-best allrounder in T20I cricket, is well-known for his recent record-breaking performance of scoring five consecutive half-centuries. The 37-year-old has vast T20 experience, having played in the IPL, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League, and Lanka Premier League.
Raza emphasised his excitement at the prospect, saying, ‘I’ve always wanted to play cricket in England, and it’s always been a dream of mine to play in the Vitality Blast, so I’m looking forward to making that happen.’ He went on to say that his goal is to entertain the supporters and win as many games as possible, ultimately helping Northamptonshire reach the quarter-finals and maybe claim the cup.
Northamptonshire’s head coach, John Sadler, expressed his enthusiasm at the acquisition, characterising Raza as a very experienced and successful cricketer on a global stage. Sadler praised Raza’s three-dimensional skills and ability to make a difference in every game he plays, emphasising that his competitive spirit will be invaluable to the squad.
Raza’s signing comes as Northants look to improve their performance in the T20 Blast after finishing sixth in the North Group last season. Raza’s inclusion to the team, with over 4,000 runs at a strike rate of little under 135 and 117 wickets in 203 career T20 outings, will bring batting firepower as well as an additional spin bowling option.
