Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has shifted attention swiftly from celebration to purpose after steering his side into the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, insisting the milestone is only part of a much bigger mission.
Zimbabwe sealed their first-ever Super Eight appearance in a men’s T20 World Cup following the abandonment of their rain-hit Group B encounter against Ireland in Pallekele. The single point earned proved enough to confirm qualification — but inside the camp, there is little appetite for complacency.
“We are certainly very humbled, very grateful and very pleased at the same time,” Raza said.
“The boys are enjoying it, rightly so, but we’ve got another game in less than 48 hours, and that includes a travelling day as well.
“We’ll have a little celebration in the changing room, but once we leave, we’ve got another game to prepare for. Our focus will shift pretty quickly.
“For now, everybody’s happy, honoured and grateful – all those feelings.”
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While qualification has been widely hailed as a historic achievement, Raza revealed that internally the team had set their ambitions higher than simply progressing.
“The Super Eight was set by you guys as a minimum requirement – the fans, the media, the public,” he said.
“When Zimbabwe set out, we didn’t set a goal just to qualify. We’ve got other goals to achieve.
“Yes, Super Eight is clearly a tick in the box, but it’s certainly not the whole box we set out for.
“Everybody remains committed and focused on what’s still ahead.”
Zimbabwe conclude their group campaign against Sri Lanka national cricket team in Colombo on Thursday — a match Raza views as a vital step in maintaining momentum before the squad relocates to India for the next phase.
“In Colombo, we had a very good game against Australia earlier. Going back there to play Sri Lanka, who are top of the table, it would be nice to try our best to win and finish the group stages as strongly as possible,” he said.
“The only game I’m looking forward to is Sri Lanka in two days’ time. After that, we’ll look at what’s to come.
“We’ve made sure we only look at one game at a time and that has served us really well.”
For Raza, the campaign represents more than tournament progression — it is about restoring Zimbabwe’s reputation in global cricket after years of absence from major ICC events.
“One of the goals we set out for – without telling you all of them – was to bring more recognition and respect to our country,” he said.
“Whatever has happened in the past has happened, but this group has been together for a long time and we’ve gone about our business with honesty and integrity towards the game and towards each other.
“To see people now taking notice of Zimbabwe and speaking about us in a respectful manner is very humbling and pleasing.
“Hopefully we can keep writing our own history so that when people talk about Zimbabwe cricket, they show a bit more respect.”
Zimbabwe’s composed group-stage performances — including statement victories over Oman and Australia — have underlined a squad growing in belief and maturity.
“I cannot put into words how honoured I feel leading this group,” Raza said.
“More credit goes to my teammates than to me. I’m just the guy who sits here and talks.
“When we sat down as a team, we were very clear about what we wanted to achieve and how we were going to go about it.
“Along the way, people had to make a lot of sacrifices because we demanded a lot from each other.
“To see these rewards now, I’m sure everybody feels it was worth it.”
Raza traced the turnaround to the disappointment of missing the previous World Cup cycle — a moment that forced the squad into collective introspection.
“When we were told we had to play the sub-regional Qualifier B in Kenya, I remember saying to the squad: either we feel sorry for ourselves or we understand the reality – and the reality is it is because of us we are in this mess. And only we can get ourselves out of it,” he said.
“We all unanimously agreed. We laid down a plan.
“We knew there would be bad games and criticism, but if we stayed true to the plan, trusted each other and created a better culture, we’d be fine.
“To see the result after almost two years is certainly very pleasing.”
The captain also acknowledged the renewed backing from supporters, many of whom have travelled to follow the team — a sight rarely seen in recent years.
“This is probably the first time in a long time where fans have travelled to support us. That tells you they believe in this group,” he said.
“To repay that faith by qualifying for the Super Eight with a game to spare is certainly worthwhile.
“It’s a huge achievement for the country. Whether people were with us or against us, let’s just come together and enjoy this moment.
“Your criticism was valued. Your praise was valued.
“For now, let’s enjoy it – even if it’s for a short time – while we prepare for what’s next.”
For Raza and his men, the message is clear: the breakthrough has been achieved — but the journey is far from complete.