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Raza debuts on GQ

SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 6, 2022

SIKANDAR Raza has become a global name in the cricket scene and there is no better time we could chat to this trailblazing cricketer. Spearheading Zimbabwe into the T20 World Cup (Australia) and breaking records, Raza is a force that has not only represented himself on the world scene but has pushed boundaries that seemed impossible for the Zimbabwe national team. After being announced ICC player of the month, which was a first of its time for Zimbabwe, Raza (SR) seems to be going harder than before. (Kudos to him for that). GQ sat down with Raza to find out more about him and his consistent rise to the global stage.

GQ: Was cricket your first career option or it came about by chance?

SR: Cricket was truly not my first career option. I actually “bumped” into the love of the game while I was in university. I initially wanted to be a fighter pilot and cricket happened to me by chance or you can call it destiny. e rest is history.

GQ: Consistency is key, how have you managed to stay on top of your game?

SR: Consistency in performances comes from consistency in training. I’ve tried to stay honest and true to my training and have always tried to train smarter. I feel like I’ve always trained hard so adding smart training into my hard training has helped me a lot, it’s all in the mind and body.

GQ: How does it feel breaking international records as a Zimbabwean professional cricketer (the ICC player of the month of August)?

SR: It certainly is humbling to be the 1st Zimbabwean to win the player of the month award. It’s also a proud moment for me and my family at the same time. I hope this comes as some sort of motivation for those who look up to me and the great sport of cricket.

GQ: What inspires you most on and off the park?

SR: e game itself inspired the me the most. I want to be better everyday. I want to represent Zimbabwe among the world's best athletes, I want to fly the flag high and these things inspire me on a regular basis.

GQ: What’s your daily routine to tackle things like anxiety and mental health constraints?

SR: So anxiety, and nervousness and other feelings are always there but I always say to myself that I’ve worked hard in training and on the match day it is about trusting my training and believing that I’ve covered all my bases for this game

Once I have that, then I can tackle the mental constraints better like pressure of the game, pressure of the crowd and opposition.

For my mental health, I switch off from the game. I spend time with my family. I play golf and watch movies to give my mind some time off from cricket.

GQ: Do you think this is the peak of your career or there’s more to come?

SR: ere’s definitely more to come!

GQ: What brands are you currently working with?

SR: I am currently working with Puma for my Footwear; with Kingsbury cricket for my cricket equipment; with Shrey for my base layer and helmets; and with Splash paints. My team works tirelessly to keep me in the right hands when it comes to brands.

GQ: In terms of advice and ethics, is there someone specific you turn to?

SR: I turn to my father for life advice and guidance and to Lance Klusener for cricket advice. Most importantly my faith; I turn to Allah and ask for guidance

GQ: What’s your your retirement?

SR: I will take time off after retirement and think hard to decide which option I would like to explore with cricket or without cricket.

GQ: It’s always refreshing to witness such inspiring stories and we know this will not be the last we hear about Sikandar Raza. — GQ Magazine. plan after

SPORT

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2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://alphamedia.pressreader.com/article/281711208528063

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