T20 World Cup: Ricky Ponting inspires Sikandar Raza as he plots Pakistan’s downfall | Cricket News

PERTH: Words of motivation from the legendary Ricky Ponting have inspired Zimbabwe in many ways Sikandar Raza as he played a key role in his team’s stunning one-run win over former champions Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on Thursday.
Raza came up with another brilliant performance as he took three wickets for 25 runs from his quota of four overs to play a key role in the massive upset and picked up his third man of the match award.

“One more thing I was thinking. There was a little clip sent to me this morning from Ricky Ponting who has a little word. I was excited, I was nervous, I was excited about today,” Raza said at the presentation. the game said.
“The motivation was always there, but when I needed a little push I thought that track did wonders, so big thanks to Ricky as well.”
Pakistan-born Raza was overcome with emotion and at a loss for words.

“I think I’m lost for words. My throat is dry, probably from all the emotions. I can’t tell you how proud I am of this bunch of boys,” Raza said.
“The way our seamers started at the top as well is just unbelievable and the way we backed it up in the field and the way we kept believing, I don’t think there are any words I can share now.”
Asked about the wrist tap signal he sent to his captain Craig Ervine, Raza said, “When we na Australia, I said to my captain: ‘If you become Man of the Match, choose any watch from the catalog and I will buy you. But if I win Man of the Match, then you’re going to buy me one.
“So I’m just reminding him that you actually owe me three watches.”
Zimbabwe’s captain, Ervine, described the win as a special one.

“Especially for the work we’ve done to get into the Super 12s and we didn’t want our tournament to end there. We wanted to come in and play some really good cricket against some top teams.
“We did exceptionally well today. I thought after our batting performance we thought we were maybe 20 or 25 short. But our seamers hit their straps early and there was just a bit more in the wicket compared to then we started. down,” Ervine said.
About Raza, he said, “He came to the party as he always does and picked up some important wickets in the middle there.
“I think he’s got three Man of the Matches so I’ll be broke by the time we get home.”
A disappointed Pakistani captain Babar Azam said his team’s batting department was not up to par.
“We had a bad first six overs but Shadab (Khan) and Shan (Masood) built a partnership but unfortunately Shadab came out and then built wickets and pressure on the batting,” he said.
“We didn’t use the first six overs well. Later we finished well. We will sit together and learn from our mistakes and come back hard next game.”