Sikandar Raza Files Racism Complaint, Coach Suspended in Harare

Zimbabwe national team all-rounder Sikandar Raza has filed a complaint of racial abuse with the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association (HMCA), following an incident that took place during a match on 1 June. Raza was playing for Old Hararians against Rainbow Cricket Club when the alleged incident occurred.

According to the complaint, Raza was subjected to racially offensive remarks by the opposition coach as he returned from the field. Though Raza did not name anyone directly, HMCA Chairperson Tafadzwa Madzoro confirmed that the accused individual is Blessing Mafuwa, the coach of Rainbow Cricket Club.

Madzoro stated,

“We have received a report regarding racial abuse directed at our T20 captain Sikandar Raza. We are treating the matter with utmost seriousness. As an initial step, Blessing Mafuwa has been suspended from all HMCA activities, and he is set to attend a hearing on Tuesday.”

Raza has called for a full investigation into the incident and urged the authorities to set an example.

“If found guilty, appropriate disciplinary action must be taken so that no one dares to repeat such behavior in the future,” Raza said.

In that match, Raza played a blistering knock of 78 off 56 balls, helping Old Hararians post a mammoth 402 in 50 overs. Rainbow Cricket Club could only manage 225 for 8 in 39 overs, losing by 142 runs via the DLS method.

Raza has been in impressive form recently. He played a match-winning role in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final for Lahore Qalandars, scoring the title-clinching runs. It was his second T20 franchise title of the year, further underlining his value as a global T20 star.