Sikandar Raza warns Zimbabwe against complacency

Zimbabwe will aim to maintain their flawless start at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 when they face the Ireland cricket team at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, but captain Sikandar Raza insists his side remains firmly grounded despite stunning back-to-back victories over Oman and the Australia national cricket team.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Kandy, Raza said the global attention following Zimbabwe's upset win over Australia has not altered the team's mindset.

"I don't think we ever left earth anyway, because we know this is just part of the journey we came on and the goals we set," he said.

While the squad briefly celebrated the Australia triumph with travelling supporters and family, Raza made it clear the focus quickly shifted.

"We always knew there's a next game and that becomes the most important game. The victories we've had so far will count for nothing, especially if there's a slip-up now."

Zimbabwe trained at Pallekele on Monday, assessing conditions Raza believes present unique challenges, including altitude and how the ball travels under Sri Lankan skies.

"We understand the wicket in Kandy is slightly different. In my head, the picture becomes clearer the closer we get to the game," he said.

Zimbabwe's pace attack has been central to their resurgence. Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans have consistently applied pressure with the new ball and at the death, with Muzarabani's 4 for 17 against Australia ranking among the tournament's standout spells.

"They've been good for a long time. It has taken us a long time to get the combinations right," Raza said, revealing the team has spent the past 18 months refining its balance.

On Evans' return from injury, he was emphatic: "He has been a real addition – a great addition – to our bowling line-up."

With a Super Eight place within reach, Zimbabwe now face a different kind of pressure — expectation rather than survival.

"It's a lovely position to be in. Fine, the world is talking about Zimbabwe. It's great. But let them do all the talking for us. The next game becomes the most important game," Raza said.

He described ICC tournaments as mentally demanding, where every fixture carries knockout intensity.

"The beauty of these ICC events is that every game practically feels like a knockout game. It's great for our mental toughness and growth."

Raza also acknowledged the broader stakes, noting that performances on cricket's biggest stage can transform careers.

"ICC events change lives — recognition, fame, financial reward or respect. Once you do well, you get everything that comes with it."

Zimbabwe's revival, he added, has been built on continuity and clarity of roles.

"We have stuck with the same side for a long time. The selection panel, the board and the captain took a lot of stick at times, but we knew this group of boys is the way forward. Now the roles are clear to everybody — and that clarity calms us."

With Sri Lanka's demanding conditions testing both skill and recovery, Raza admitted there are physical challenges but remains upbeat.

"The advantage is when you're winning, the flow is there. The disadvantage is that in these conditions the body doesn't recover as well. But that's part of ICC tournaments — it's about skills, conditions, weather and travelling."

And if scheduling were up to him?

"We would just prefer to keep winning," he smiled.

Momentum is building, belief is growing — but as Zimbabwe stand on the brink of the Super Eight, their captain's message is simple: stay grounded, stay focused, and treat the next game as everything.