Sikandar Raza’s journey to professional cricket is anything but typical. Hailing from Pakistan, he originally aspired to be a fighter pilot and had even applied to join the air force. However, his dream was dashed when he didn’t pass the required eye test. Undeterred, Raza enrolled at Glasgow Caledonian College, where he found himself playing semi-professional cricket. A twist of fate led him to Zimbabwe, where his family had emigrated years earlier. It was in this new land that Raza made his first-class debut in 2007. Once he became eligible to represent Zimbabwe, he earned his spot in the national team and made his one-day international debut against Bangladesh in May 2013. In his more than 20 one-day international matches, Raza has showcased his batting prowess, notching up two centuries, with a personal best of 141. He has become a valuable asset in Zimbabwe’s ODI squad. In the Test format, having played four matches to date, Raza has displayed his consistency by scoring four fifties.