A World Cup at home before retiring from international cricket will be a "blessing" for Sikandar Raza even though, he feels, Zimbabwe are unlikely to get much home advantage at an ICC tournament. Zimbabwe, one of three hosts for the 2027 ODI World Cup with South Africa and Namibia, will play all their league matches in Harare, Bulawayo and the new venue in Victoria Falls.
"Every cricketer dream of having retired or to retire after a World Cup," Raza, now past 40, said at the launch of a mobile cricket game, "SIXR", on Tuesday. "The fact that I am coming to the end of my career as well, so to have an opportunity to play a home World Cup is certainly a blessing for me from personal point of view.
"From a collective point of view, I do think the world really needs to see what Africa has to offer - the beauty, the crowd, and the vibe and everything that we have to offer in Zimbabwe, especially. The world deserves to see it. For people who will find time to travel to Zimbabwe to watch the World Cup, it will be an unforgettable experience."
Raza, the Zimbabwe captain, also gave his thumbs-up to the format of the World Cup, where one team moves up from the first round, which will pit three teams, and joins the top 11 in two groups of six, followed by the Super Seven and finally the knockouts.
"I quite like the Super Seven idea. I think the teams that play well deserve to have more games at the World Cup," he said. "When it comes to Zimbabwe and the fixtures, if you look at our FTP, our board has done really well to find fixtures from here and there outside our FTP programme as well. Zimbabwe Cricket has gone up and beyond for their players to play more games to be ready for whichever fixture."
'We will try and take some advantage where we can'
The additional of the Victoria Falls venue - called Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium - will work as added attraction for travelling fans.
The Zimbabwe vs India fixture on October 27, a Sunday, will be the first game there, followed by three Super Seven games.
"We will try our best to gain some home advantage, but for ICC events it's very difficult because the curators - ICC is basically in control of everything," Raza said. "But yes, we will try and take some advantage where we can - fair advantage that is. We are really excited that our new stadium will be launched in the next few months and I do think we have fixtures there early next year as well, so we're really looking forward.
"What we expect from Victoria Falls, as much as cricket is important, but I think outside cricket, beautiful sightings, a peaceful sleep because you can hear the falls, a lovely sunset, and some great human beings and a hospitable environment for everyone."
'Our performances will get better' with a 12-team WTC
"I think that's what will happen for the next two years," Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg told Cricinfo recently when asked about the possibility of a 12-team World Test Championship. If that happens, Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe will come into the mix.
"If that happens, I will be the first guy who will be in support of that," Raza said. "If Zimbabwe is part of WTC - whether we are able to do well at the start [or not] - one thing I do know [is that] our cricketing growth will go up. Our performances will get better in all formats."
But if that does happen after he quits the game, he wouldn't be coming back.
"Would I be tempted? No, I will not be tempted. I have come to peace with the decisions that I am making in life," he said. "I will not be a guy who, when the time comes, will call it off and then says I'm taking my retirement back. It will not happen, that's not me."
Sikandar Raza is one of 20-plus international cricketers, many of them retired, who have signed up with SIXR as brand ambassadors. The others include KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi and Eoin Morgan. SIXR offers fans to play directly against these superstars on their gaming app and programme.