Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza: Hopefully we can keep writing our own history

The African side beat Oman in their tournament opener before defying all odds to overcome Australia in Colombo.

Qualification to the next round was confirmed on Tuesday when their third game against Ireland was abandoned without a ball being due to consistent rain in Pallekele, which also knocked Australia out of the global competition.

It now seems a long time ago when Zimbabwe lost to Uganda in an Africa Qualifier to suffer the embarrassment of missing out on the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Raza and his charges still have one more dead-rubber group game against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo before facing India, West Indies and South Africa in the Super Eights.

"We've got other goals to achieve and we remain focused for that. Yes, the Super Eights is a tick in the box, but it's certainly not the whole box," the Zimbabwe told reporters.

"One of the goals we set out to achieve was certainly that we're going to bring more recognition and respect to our country.

"Whatever has happened in the past has happened, but this group of boys and the way we have been together for a long time and the way we have gone about our business with utmost honesty and integrity towards the game itself and to each other in the changing room - that was one of the things we set out for.

"To see now you guys (media) and everybody else putting Zimbabwe in a very respectable place and taking notice of our country is certainly very humbling and pleasing.

"It's one of the boxes we wanted to tick as well, and hopefully we can keep writing our own history and the next time when people talk about Zimbabwe when it comes to cricket, they show a bit more respect. That will be nice."

There has been small group of Zimbabweans following the team in the group matches in Sri Lanka, and they were seen singing and dancing with the players as soon as qualification was confirmed.

Raza made sure to pay tribute to the fans, in Sri Lanka and back home, for all the support they have given the team, especially in the bad times.

"This is probably the first time in a long time where the fans have travelled to support us," Raza said.

"I think that is because of the way we have played cricket over the last year. We have given them that hope that, yes, this team is onto something and we can achieve something if we all are together.

"And that's just not the cricketers, or us in the changing room, or the technical staff. It is our fans. It is our media. It is the citizens of our country.

"It is everybody who's connected to cricket, whether it's in Zimbabwe or overseas. And if we have all of us together, I think we will achieve something."

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