Sikandar Raja


Sikandar Raja, the all-rounder from Zimbabwe, has stated that the IPL is the best league in the world, and the atmosphere at the Gaddafi Stadium is the finest," said Sikandar Raja. "Zimbabwe won't play in the World Cup; I am to blame."

Playing T20 cricket at 37, Raja said, "I don't feel any difference when calling the IPL the best league. I've only spoken the truth. If you ask me where the best entertainment is, I'll say Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. And if you ask which is the best league, I'll take the IPL's name."

Raja recently praised the IPL, which led to trolling from Pakistani fans. In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, he said...

On being asked by Bhaskar, Raja responded, "I was talking positively to myself when we played against the Dubai Capitals last week. I knew that if we lost, we could be out of the tournament. So, I was only saying to myself that, Sikandar, no matter what happens, we have to win this match, or else we'll have to go home. I didn't let any negative thoughts come into my mind. I was just thinking that we had to win the match no matter what."

On being trolled for calling the IPL the best league in the world, Raja said, "I don't care about what's happening on social media. Some things are being said that I haven't even said. My words are being circulated incorrectly. Some are happy, some are angry, or they're angry at me, but it doesn't make a difference to me. I said what was true. Some people on social media have agendas, and you can't change that."

"Do you stand by your statement that the IPL is the best league in the world?" Raja was asked. He replied, "The IPL is the biggest cricket league in the world. I don't think there's any falsehood in saying that. If you ask me where I find the best environment, my answer would be Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The stadium is always packed, and I get great support from the people. They dance, sing, and enjoy themselves there."

"If you ask me, Sikandar, which league do you think is the best? I'll take the name of the IPL. I believe every league has its charm. We compare and indulge in negativity. I don't think about that. It's true that I found the best cricket standard in the IPL and the best entertainment in Lahore."

"Where did you find the best environment in India?" Raja was asked. He said, "I received more love, affection, and respect than I expected. I'll always be grateful for that. Speaking of the city, I really liked Chandigarh. I'm from a small town. I prefer silence and peace. I liked Chandigarh because I spent more time there. Life is faster in big cities, but I enjoyed it the most in Chandigarh."

"How is the IPL different from other leagues?" Raja was questioned. He replied, "The biggest difference of the IPL is that all the top cricketers in the world are available for this league. Your cricket quality improves here. At this time, there are no international tournaments or series happening. In my opinion, the biggest plus point of the IPL is having overseas players."

"With home tournaments, local players are also available. Indian cricket has a high quality. The biggest difference I found is that all the top players in the world are available for a tournament. That's the biggest factor in the IPL."

"What do you think about the future of ILT20?" Raja was asked. He said, "The future of ILT20 looks bright because Dubai Cricket is becoming a big center and promoting it. I would say big players keep coming, and the league's standard keeps rising. Local players get opportunities and keep performing better. Now, local players are getting opportunities in the league, and they're batting in the powerplay, and captains are relying on local players. All this is happening due to the league's growth."

"Your performance in ILT20 has been good. How much benefit do you think you'll get from the IPL?" Raja was questioned. He replied, "I'm not playing ILT20 to prepare for the PSL. I play PSL to prepare for the IPL. I play IPL to prepare for international cricket. I don't rely on it. I believe that the team that has signed me should use my skills for that team and win trophies. Even if I can't win the trophy, I can proudly say that I gave my best. After that, if there's another tournament, I'll focus on that."

"The Indian team will tour Zimbabwe in July. How does a tour of big cricketing nations change the country's cricket?" Raja was asked. He said, "When young players play against India, they learn a lot. They get a chance to talk to Indian players. When young bowlers and batsmen bowl and bat against Indian cricketers, their confidence grows, and their skills develop."

"India tours Zimbabwe every two years. From the money we receive, programs are run for new cricketers. Talent is searched for. If there's no money coming to an institution, it's not possible. India has always been a friend of Zimbabwe."

"After the One Day World Cup, Zimbabwe couldn't qualify for the T20 World Cup. What's the reason?" Raja replied, "I am the reason. I couldn't perform better. If I had performed better, we would have qualified. I think I could have scored a few more runs and taken a few more wickets."

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