Razah on cloud nine after scoring IPL franchise...

Razah on cloud nine after scoring IPL franchise deal

IPL 2023: 'It would be nice to have IPL on my CV'- Sikandar Raza on getting maiden IPL contract — Razah

Zim Now Writer

Sikandar Raza, 36, is set to take part in the Punjab-based franchise, the Indian Premier League (IPL). On Friday, December 23, Punjab Kings (PBKS) picked him

"It was part of my thinking that before I hang my boots up, it would be nice to have the IPL on my CV. Alhamdulillah (thank God) it has happened. I am really happy, humble and excited at the same time. I would have [been fine with] any franchise but to have a Punjabi munda in Punjab, it is a great match," Raza said of the development.

"I was in training today. I was calm. Sometimes I was nervous. I went through all the emotions before the auction. We went back to the hotel. Then there was an anti-corruption meeting while the auction was on. When it was my turn at the IPL auction, I was moving from one room to another, and the internet got disconnected.

"While it was connecting back again, I started getting a lot of messages from my friends, congratulating me. I said, 'What, I can't see it. Are you guys playing a prank?' They said check the auction. I said I am checking but I haven't even been up there.

"What happened was, by the time I reconnected, I had gone already. So, basically, I didn't see the bid. Maybe that was a good thing actually. I reckon it's a good thing. If I was watching, I would have shouted in the meeting," Raza added.

Raza has been one of the top performers, especially in T20s this year. He was the pick of the players for Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2022 on Australian soil.

Recently, Raza also broke the former Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s record of most T20I Player of the Match awards in a calendar year.

In 158 T20s, Raza has scored 3109 runs at an average of 23.55 and picked up 79 wickets with two four-wicket hauls to his name.