'Rescue missions' not the way to go, says Sikandar Raza

Zimbabwe have to stop relying on "rescue missions" and make better starts with the bat, their captain Sikandar Raza said after yet another top-order failure left them at 26 for 3 in the seventh over in the UAE ODI tri-series final against Afghanistan. They were eventually bowled out for 169, which Afghanistan crossed with seven wickets and 93 balls in hand.

In their three tri-series matches, Zimbabwe were 24 for 3 (7 overs), 26 for 3 (7.1 overs) and now 26 for 3, with Brian Bennett's 31 in the previous game against Afghanistan the only ccontribution of note. The big reason they got in the final ahead of Bangladesh was the 150-run stand for the fourth wicket between Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine. In the final, Raza made 68.

"If Zimbabwe hasn't won an ODI against Afghanistan in the last eight years, then that is a poor record to have," Raza said, pointing to Zimbabwe's record of losing their last eight ODIs against Afghanistan, dating back to 2022. Their last win against the opponents had come in March 2018.

"The one thing we need to get right is that Zimbabwe cannot be 24 for 3 every game. This thing has been hurting us," Raza said. "If it wasn't for Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor for a 150 partnership, then maybe the Bangladesh game would have been different as well.

"But I remember one of the coaches we had in the past, Lance Klusener, always used to say that Zimbabwe is playing rescue missions all the time. The beauty of a rescue mission is not every rescue mission will be successful. I feel like that's exactly what we've done in this series, and that's where we've got it wrong."

Raza had praise for his bowlers, though, especially considering the heat and humidity in the UAE.

"Newman [Nyamhuri] certainly bowled quick. He's still young, he's raw, but we don't want him to worry about the runs; we just want him to bowl quick. I think with the confidence, he's starting to bowl even better. Bless [Blessing Muzarabani] and Brad Evans bowled their heart out in this heat," Raza said. "Whether these guys had the wickets or not, but the fact that they bowled really well throughout the series, certainly that's a plus.

"There's not many plusses in batting, but these fast bowlers in this heat certainly bowled their heart out. [Ernest] Masuku had a great attitude. I am really happy for him."

Zimbabwe will now play three T20Is and two Tests against Afghanistan in Sharjah, with Raza hoping for an improved show, the team having spent time in the region for a while now.

"One thing I'm expecting is us guys to be now [be] acclimatised. I think we arrived two days before the first game, and I know we won against Bangladesh, but we suffered [in the heat]," Raza said. "We are still struggling with heat and humidity and all that. But now that we've been in the country for almost a week and the T20 starts in four days' time, that will give us ten days [in the UAE] before the first game.

"We will be better equipped with the climate. That would allow us to perform better. I am hoping that the T20 series will be a lot more close-contested, and the Test series as well. Hopefully not like the ODI series, because I felt the last two games we just existed, and I don't want Zimbabwe to just exist. I want us to win."