“I think we never left earth anyway,” Raza said during a Monday’s pre-match briefing. “We know this is just part of the journey and the goals that we set. Those victories we have had so far will count for nothing if there is a slip-up now.”
“In my head, the picture will be very clear after I watch the game tonight,” Raza said. “We understand the challenges that come with the wicket, the altitude, the travelling of the ball, how the ball comes on all those notes we have made from past experiences.”
“It has taken us a long time to get the combinations right,” Raza said. “We’ve been on this journey for the last 18 odd months, trying different combinations, and then when we found what we think will help us and suit us in these conditions, we stuck with them for the last nine odd months.”
He singled out Evans as a “great addition” who has stepped up as a third seamer. “Brad was injured, but he came back and he has taken those ranks as a third seamer with performances that I don’t even think I can sum him up in words because he has been a real [good] addition.”
“ICC events change lives in every way, whether that is recognition, whether that is fame, whether that is financial, respect, whichever way you look at it,” Raza said. “So yeah, it is life-changing and hopefully we can keep writing our own history and keep going further than we ever went in our history.”
With matches packed closely together, the physical toll on the players is rising. Raza acknowledged the “pros and cons” of the tight schedule, noting that while winning builds momentum, the body struggles to recover in these conditions. Yet, despite the tired legs and rise in expectations, the objective for Zimbabwe remains singular and simple. When asked if he would prefer more rest days between the action, Raza’s answer was short: “We would just prefer to keep winning.”
