COLOMBO, 13 February 2026 – Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has confirmed a significant blow to his side’s T20 World Cup campaign, announcing that veteran batter Brendan Taylor has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to injury. The announcement came during the toss for Zimbabwe’s Group B clash against Australia today at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
T20 World Cup Updates: Zimbabwe vs Australia
In the ongoing match against Australia, Zimbabwe posted a competitive total of 169 for 2. Raza provided the finishing flourish to the innings, flicking a yorker from Nathan Ellis over fine leg for six on the final delivery. Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to field, with Mitchell Marsh leading the side despite his recent recovery from injury.
The loss of Brendan Taylor is a major setback for the Chevrons. Taylor had previously retired hurt during Zimbabwe’s victory over Oman four days ago after suffering a hamstring injury. Raza, who took over the finishing duties in that match to secure an eight-wicket win, expressed his disappointment at losing the 40-year-old veteran’s experience for the high-stakes matches ahead.
Raza Regains World No. 1 Ranking
The injury news comes at a time of personal triumph for the Zimbabwean skipper. Following his clinical performance against Oman—where he took 1 for 17 and hit the winning runs—Sikandar Raza has officially regained the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I All-Rounder Rankings. He surpassed Pakistan’s Saim Ayub to reclaim the premier position, a spot he has held multiple times over the last two years.
Raza also continues to chase history in the “Player of the Match” (POTM) category. Having recently surpassed Virat Kohli’s record for the most POTM awards in T20Is (reaching 17 in late 2025), he currently sits second on the all-time list with 19 awards, trailing only India’s Suryakumar Yadav.
Player Profile and Career Statistics
Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, Raza moved to Zimbabwe and has since become the cornerstone of their national side. He is one of only five Zimbabwean cricketers to achieve the triple of 1,000 runs, 50 wickets, and 50 catches in One Day Internationals.
| Format | Matches | Runs Scored | Batting Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 22 | 1,434 | 34.14 |
| ODI | 153 | 4,476 | 36.99 |
| T20I | 127 | 2,883 | 25.74 |
| First Class | 71 | 4,610 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sikandar Raza’s current ICC ranking?
As of 11 February 2026, Sikandar Raza is the No. 1 ranked T20I All-Rounder in the world.
Who is replacing Brendan Taylor in the Zimbabwe squad?
While a specific replacement name for the squad has not been officially confirmed by the ICC technical committee yet, captain Sikandar Raza confirmed Taylor’s tournament is over following a hamstring injury sustained against Oman.
How many Player of the Match awards does Sikandar Raza have?
Sikandar Raza currently has 19 Player of the Match awards in T20Is, placing him second on the all-time list behind Suryakumar Yadav.
Where was Sikandar Raza born?
He was born in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan, on 24 April 1986, before moving to Zimbabwe to pursue his cricket career.