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Raza suffers racist abuse in Harare
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Zimbabwe T20 cricket captain Sikandar Raza has filed a formal complaint with the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association (HMCA), alleging racial abuse during a Vigne Cup match at Old Hararians Sports Club on June 1.
According to Raza, the abuse came from Rainbow Cricket Club coach Blessing Mafuwa, who allegedly hurled racially charged insults at the national team star during the match. The encounter saw Old Hararians defeat Rainbow by 142 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after scoring a formidable 402 for 9 in their 39 overs. Raza top-scored with 78 runs off 56 balls before Rainbow was restricted to 228 for 8.
The incident reportedly occurred while Raza was walking off the field due to muscle tightness. In his complaint, Raza says Mafuwa verbally abused him, and despite calls for civility, the coach escalated the confrontation.
"While I was leaving the field, Mafuwa screamed and shouted at me," Raza recounted. "Despite my pleas for him to speak respectfully, he continued to abuse me. What hurt the most was when he said, 'I can say whatever I want, I have a Zimbabwean passport, not a Pakistani passport like Raza. This is my land, not Pakistan.'"
The remarks have stirred outrage, not just because they were allegedly racially motivated, but because they were made in front of national team players and during an official domestic fixture. Raza, who has lived in Zimbabwe for 23 years and held citizenship for 14 of those, described the incident as deeply painful and damaging.
"In front of players of various races, I was subjected to racist remarks despite serving Zimbabwean cricket for over a decade," Raza wrote in his letter to HMCA chairperson Tafadzwa Madoro. "This is unacceptable and must be dealt with decisively."
Calling for accountability, Raza urged HMCA to take disciplinary action.
"I request stern action against Mafuwa for abusing a national player and captain with racial slurs," he said.
The HMCA has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and confirmed that the matter is being investigated. Chairperson Madoro said the disciplinary process will begin once Mafuwa submits a written response to the allegations.
"We are investigating the matter and will convene a disciplinary meeting soon," Madoro stated.
Zimbabwe Cricket and the International Cricket Council (ICC) maintain a zero-tolerance policy on racism. The ICC's Anti-Discrimination Policy explicitly prohibits any offensive, insulting, or discriminatory behaviour based on race, religion, or nationality, among other attributes.
The policy reads in part: "No person shall at any time offend, insult, humiliate, threaten, disparage, vilify or unlawfully discriminate between persons based on their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and maternity status."
Raza's complaint has ignited calls for stronger anti-discrimination enforcement in Zimbabwean cricket, with many viewing this incident as a critical test of the sport's commitment to inclusion and respect.
According to Raza, the abuse came from Rainbow Cricket Club coach Blessing Mafuwa, who allegedly hurled racially charged insults at the national team star during the match. The encounter saw Old Hararians defeat Rainbow by 142 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after scoring a formidable 402 for 9 in their 39 overs. Raza top-scored with 78 runs off 56 balls before Rainbow was restricted to 228 for 8.
The incident reportedly occurred while Raza was walking off the field due to muscle tightness. In his complaint, Raza says Mafuwa verbally abused him, and despite calls for civility, the coach escalated the confrontation.
"While I was leaving the field, Mafuwa screamed and shouted at me," Raza recounted. "Despite my pleas for him to speak respectfully, he continued to abuse me. What hurt the most was when he said, 'I can say whatever I want, I have a Zimbabwean passport, not a Pakistani passport like Raza. This is my land, not Pakistan.'"
The remarks have stirred outrage, not just because they were allegedly racially motivated, but because they were made in front of national team players and during an official domestic fixture. Raza, who has lived in Zimbabwe for 23 years and held citizenship for 14 of those, described the incident as deeply painful and damaging.
"In front of players of various races, I was subjected to racist remarks despite serving Zimbabwean cricket for over a decade," Raza wrote in his letter to HMCA chairperson Tafadzwa Madoro. "This is unacceptable and must be dealt with decisively."
Calling for accountability, Raza urged HMCA to take disciplinary action.
"I request stern action against Mafuwa for abusing a national player and captain with racial slurs," he said.
The HMCA has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and confirmed that the matter is being investigated. Chairperson Madoro said the disciplinary process will begin once Mafuwa submits a written response to the allegations.
"We are investigating the matter and will convene a disciplinary meeting soon," Madoro stated.
Zimbabwe Cricket and the International Cricket Council (ICC) maintain a zero-tolerance policy on racism. The ICC's Anti-Discrimination Policy explicitly prohibits any offensive, insulting, or discriminatory behaviour based on race, religion, or nationality, among other attributes.
The policy reads in part: "No person shall at any time offend, insult, humiliate, threaten, disparage, vilify or unlawfully discriminate between persons based on their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and maternity status."
Raza's complaint has ignited calls for stronger anti-discrimination enforcement in Zimbabwean cricket, with many viewing this incident as a critical test of the sport's commitment to inclusion and respect.
Source - The Standard
