Punjab Kings have given a debut opportunity to a Pakistan-born player in their first match of IPL-2023. Although this player plays from Zimbabwe and his all-rounder skills can prove to be very useful for the team.
Image Credit source: AFP Photo
Mohali: Punjab Kings is one of those teams which has not won IPL even once. This team reached the final in 2014 but was deprived of winning the title. This season the team has changed its captain and also the coach. Shikhar Dhawan, who captained the Indian team, has been made the captain of this team, while Trevor Bayliss, who won the World Cup to England, is the coach of Punjab. Both of them have given a player a chance to debut in the first match. This player belongs to Pakistan. This player is Sikandar Raza.
Raza just plays for Zimbabwe. He is an important player of the Zimbabwe team and he has proved useful for the team with his brilliant game. Both his excellent batting and bowling can be useful for the team. This all-rounder is playing in IPL for the first time. Punjab bought him for his base price of Rs 50 lakh.
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Sikandar wanted to become a pilot
Sikandar was born in Sialkot, Pakistan. At the age of 11, he told his parents that he wanted to become a pilot. He also gave the exam for this and got admission in the Air Force College. 60,000 people gave the exam, out of which only 60 people were selected and Raza was one of them. But in the third year, he failed in the eye test and due to this his dream was shattered. He then came to Zimbabwe with his parents. Here his parents were living since 2002 and then in 2007 he made his first class debut. Then from here his cricket career took off.
Will prove important for Punjab
This player can prove to be very important for Punjab. He can handle the team in the middle order and can also score runs after being set. He scored a century on India’s tour of Zimbabwe and troubled India. Apart from the bat, he can be useful to the team with his off-spin.
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