Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza believes that the gap between Full Members and Associate nations in T20 Cricket has decreased significantly. His team is set to play Oman in their first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo.
Before the match, Raza highlighted that teams previously seen as underdogs are now more prepared to challenge stronger nations in T20 format.
“All Associate nations have caught up with the T20 format, especially those ranked maybe from 7 to 11. Credit goes to them for their growth in T20, and hopefully, the gap will continue to shrink,” Raza stated ahead of Zimbabwe’s match against Oman.
The former World No.1 T20I all-rounder also recognized the impact of global T20 leagues in bridging this gap.
“Thanks to franchise cricket, many Associate players get opportunities and valuable experiences, which they bring back home. All these factors have helped bring T20 cricket closer together,” he added.
Raza’s comments are supported by impressive performances in the World Cup so far. The USA’s bold display against India and Nepal’s strong effort against England show the rising confidence of these teams.
Zimbabwe’s campaign kicks off against Oman on February 9 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. They are in Group B alongside Ireland, co-hosts Sri Lanka, and Australia.
