Haotong Li, seconds into the story, knows where it’s going. He laughs. 

He then interrupts. 

“That sucks, man,” Li said. “I hate him. 

“I hate him.”

LI’s joking, of course. Appearing this week on “The Smylie Show” podcast, he did a lot of that in retelling a moment from the 2019 Presidents Cup that, at the time, caused a small stir. Here’s the setup: During the third day of play at Royal Melbourne, Li and International team partner Marc Leishman played Americans Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler in a foursomes match, and, after a tee shot into the trees on the right side of the 2nd hole, Li punched out — but there was an issue.  

Thomas was away on the hole. While there’s no penalty for playing out of turn, a player can make the offender hit again, according to Rule 6.4a (2).

And Thomas and Fowler asked that of Li. 

Here, we’ll let the podcast exchange continue (and you should listen to the entire episode, which you can do here). For some quick background, know that Li was playing in his first Presidents Cup, and the Saturday match was his first of the event. 

Said host Smylie Kaufman: “So, Haotong, what does Justin then say next to you …? What does he say?”

Said Li: “Literally that [expletive] made me play that again.” 

Said Kaufman: “Where did you hit the first shot? Did you hit it back in play?” 

Said Li: “Well, I hit a perfect shot through the small gap and I thought, you know, for someone only play — I’m the only guy in the team played twice. At least other guys played three times. So first game for me and I’m so excited and I don’t know exact — I don’t know nothing about that rule, you know. Now I learn. And I was like, OK, let’s — because I like to play quick, I play ready golf. And then one time in the trees.” 

Said Kaufman: “You did.” 

Haotong: “Yeah, I did. And then the boss look at me like, ‘Haotong, I don’t think you can play that one.’ And I said, ‘What do you mean?’ JT goes, ‘This is match play.’ I said, ‘Yeah, what do you mean?’ He goes, ‘Yeah, you’re going to play again.’ I was like, ‘What the [expletive] you talking about?’” 

Said Kaufman: “And did a rules official say, yeah, Haotong, you got to hit again?” 

Said Li: “Yeah, and rules official came in and involves that and goes, “Oh, you got to play again.” Guess what? Hit the tree. And they’re both laughing so bad at me.”

Li’s retelling, though, ended well. 

He said that he’s now friends with Fowler and Thomas. 

Editor’s note: To listen to the entire “The Smylie Show” episode with Li, please click here. 

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Shadab Khan of Pakistan celebrates (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly expressed its unhappiness with Shadab Khan following his pointed remarks about former players during the ongoing World Cup. According to a report, the board has cautioned the all-rounder to be more measured in his language after he responded sharply to criticism surrounding his selection. Shadab had answered his detractors after playing a key role in Pakistan’s 102-run win over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday, contributing a brisk 22-ball 36 and returning figures of 3-13. Addressing the criticism from ex-cricketers appearing on television panels, he said, “Former cricketers have their own opinions. They (former players) were legends, but even they could not achieve what we have. We have beaten India in a World Cup.”

As per Telecom Asia Sport, team manager Naveed Cheema relayed the PCB’s concerns to Shadab, informing him that his comments had crossed a line during the post-match press conference. “Naveed Cheema has called to convey to Shadab that he was out of his limits in the press conference on Wednesday night. Shadab should know that all former players – including his father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq – are respectable and are greats of Pakistan. Shadab should respect them and should not use such language,” the report stated. It further claimed that Cheema has been directed to remind other players to keep their public remarks confined to match matters, warning that disciplinary action could follow if boundaries are breached. Shadab’s father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq, also voiced his disappointment. “Those were unwanted comments, and most of the players had played with me. In fact, I am also one of those who have not won an ICC event, but we won several big matches for Pakistan – Tests and ODIs,” Saqlain told Telecom Asia Sport. Pakistan are scheduled to face New Zealand in their first Super Eight fixture in Colombo on Saturday. They will then meet England in Pallekele on February 24, followed by a clash against Sri Lanka at the same venue four days later.

Former NFL quarterback Brian Hoyer and his family are mourning a loved one who died “suddenly and unexpectedly.”

In a social media post, Hoyer revealed his sister-in-law, Carissa, died last Friday. She was 36. Details about Carissa’s death were not immediately made public.

“It is with a heavy heart that I write this,” Hoyer captioned an Instagram post. Carissa is survived by Brian’s brother, Brett Hoyer, and their four young daughters.

“In an instant, he became a widowed father to four daughters under 12,” the former New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback added.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Brian Hoyer pumps his fist after the Raiders defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., Oct. 15, 2023. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports)

The family launched a GoFundMe campaign for financial support, and Hoyer shared information on the fundraiser on his social media platform. The campaign is seeking $100,000. As of Thursday evening, the fund had exceeded its donation goal.

EX-NFL PRO BOWL LINEMAN TRE’ JOHNSON DEAD AT 54

The GoFundMe’s description described Carissa as “a strong and courageous woman who dearly loved her family” and who “cherished the opportunity to build a family of her own.”

“She truly felt called to be a wife and mother, and she embraced that role with her whole heart,” the tribute stated. “She was the heart and soul of their home, a steady source of encouragement, faith, warmth, and unconditional love through every challenge and every joy.”

Brian Hoyer of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 10, 2023. (Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

The financial support aims to “help ease daily pressures as Brett steps into the role of a single parent.”

“Our hope is simple. We want Brett to be able to focus on loving his girls, grieving together, and beginning the long process of healing without the constant weight of financial stress,” the description continued. “We cannot take away their pain, but together we can help carry the weight.”

New England Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer throws a pass during warmups before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., Oct. 2, 2022. (Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports)

Brian’s other brother, Matthew, expressed gratitude for all the support the family has received. 

“There truly are no words to fully express what this means to our family,” he wrote.

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Hoyer last appeared in an NFL game in 2023 with the Raiders. He made his debut with the Patriots in 2009 and returned to the franchise in 2024 as a member of its broadcast team.

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Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old American, disco-danced her way to a historic gold medal at the Assago Arena in Milan on Thursday night, becoming the first US women’s Olympic figure skating champion in over two decades. Her stunning performance, set to a Donna Summer medley, marked a remarkable comeback for the skater who had previously stepped away from the sport.

Liu, who took a two-year hiatus after finishing seventh at the Beijing Games as a 16-year-old, captivated the audience in a golden sequinned dress. She shattered her season’s best free skate score by almost four points, propelling her above Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, who secured silver, and 17-year-old Ami Nakai, who had held a two-point lead after Tuesday’s short program.

Meanwhile, Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian, whose participation had been scrutinized due to her association with controversial coach Eteri Tutberidze, saw her medal hopes dashed early.

An opening attempt at a quad toe-loop resulted in a fall, relegating her to sixth place. This stumble effectively sidelined the ongoing debate surrounding her connection to Tutberidze, who faced criticism from then International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach following Kamila Valieva’s scandal four years prior.

It was the first individual gold medal for an American woman since 2002, when Sarah Hughes stood atop the podium in Salt Lake City, and it was the second gold for Liu at the Milan Cortina Games. She helped the Americans win team gold.

Liu’s triumph brings an end to 12 years of Russian dominance in the event, marking the first American victory since Sarah Hughes claimed gold in Salt Lake City. Cheered on by fellow American skater Ilia Malinin, Liu executed seven flawless triple jumps, accumulating a total score of 226.79 to secure her place at the top of the standings.

Sakamoto, a three-time world champion and Beijing bronze medallist, finished just under two points behind Liu, falling short of her season best in what she had declared would be her final Games. Nakai, skating last to ‘Wonderful World’, struggled with a triple lutz but appeared delighted to claim bronze on her Olympic debut. There was also a measure of redemption for Liu’s American teammate Amber Glenn, who climbed from 13th to fifth place after delivering the third-best free skate score of the night.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has named captain Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie in a 25-player squad for friendly matches against Cameroon in Yaounde. The two teams will meet on 28 February and 3 March as part of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo are included in the attack, while Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene returns to the squad after two years away. Gift Monday is back after missing last year’s continental success in Morocco, and Comfort Erhabor has received her first senior call-up. Defender Chidinma Okeke also returns, while Precious Christopher earns her first invitation to the national team.

Experienced defenders Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin and Ashleigh Plumptre keep their places. Midfielders Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, Deborah Abiodun and Jennifer Echegini are also included, along with forward Omorinsola Babajide.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers:

Chiamaka Nnadozie, Comfort Erhabor, Fatima Oloko, Anderline Mgbechi

Defenders:

Osinachi Ohale, Shukurat Oladipo, Michelle Alozie, Ashleigh Plumptre, Glory Ogbonna, Oluwatosin Demehin, Sikiratu Isah, Chidinma Okeke

Midfielders:

Halimatu Ayinde, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, Christy Ucheibe, Precious Christopher

Forwards:

Rasheedat Ajibade, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Gift Monday, Joy Omewa, Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, Omorinsola Babajide

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will hold in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April. The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Just six days removed from TNA No Surrender, Trey Miguel defended his newly-won International Championship against Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo on “Thursday Night iMPACT.” Fortunately for Miguel, it proved to be a successful one.

In this title match’s closing moments, Miguel leapt off the top turnbuckle with a meteora for a near fall on Lorenzo. Before he could inflict further damage, Arianna Grace then slid her Knockouts Championships into the ring to distract the referee, allowing Lorenzo to rake Miguel’s eyes and land a kick to the back of his head. Still, Miguel managed to bounce back with a win, courtesy of the Shellshock (swinging reverse STO) followed by the Lightning Spiral.

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Miguel initially earned his TNA International Championship match at No Surrender by claiming a briefcase in last month’s Feast or Fired match, which also marked his official return to TNA. Like tonight, Grace interfered in Miguel and Lorenzo’s title match at No Surrender. In both cases, though, Miguel overcame her involvement to defeat Lorenzo, who continues to appear on TNA programming through the promotion’s partnership with WWE.

As of this writing, Miguel’s next challenger has yet to be determined. Meanwhile, Lorenzo is coming off a 70-day reign as TNA International Champion, having previously unseated Steve Maclin back in December for the title.

Ahead of Lorenzo’s rematch against Miguel, Grace proclaimed that she and Lorenzo would be the new power couple of TNA, especially given that she captured the TNA Knockouts Championship at No Surrender. Following back-to-back losses to Miguel, however, Lorenzo is now left titleless.

Read more: Five Wrestlers Worse Off After Joining TNA

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Feb. 19—SAN FRANCISCO — Gonzaga’s surprising setback at Portland two weeks ago will follow Mark Few’s team into Selection Sunday, but if you looked at an updated version of the NCAA NET rankings on Thursday morning — one of the evaluation tools committee members will use to seed and sort NCAA Tournament teams — it may have been easy to forget an 87-80 loss to the Pilots even happened in the first place.

Gonzaga was ranked No. 6 in the NET rankings prior to its gloomy night at the Chiles Center. The Zags slid to No. 9 with a Quad 3 loss, but have steadily worked their way up the totem pole with four comfortable wins in West Coast Conference play, including three road victories.

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If you refreshed the NET rankings on Thursday, you probably noticed Gonzaga bumped up to No. 5. That’s two positions higher than where the Zags were before Wednesday’s 80-59 victory over San Francisco at the Chase Center and one spot higher than where they sat prior to the Portland loss.

The Zags still have a few more weeks to build their NCAA Tournament resume and three more games to secure an outright WCC regular-season title.

For now, we’ll take a minute to review how Gonzaga picked up its 26th win, thanks in large part to contributions from a young point guard and veteran forward.

Super(y) night

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Few has insisted this season — and on multiple occasions — that fans, reporters and followers of his program shouldn’t read into the different starting lineup combinations Gonzaga’s used this season.

It may not be wise to make any sweeping conclusions about Mario Saint-Supery’s first start since late December, but the point guard’s minutes total against San Francisco and seemed noteworthy and potentially a sign of things to come as the Zags enter the final week of the regular season.

Saint-Supery started for the first time since Dec. 21 against Oregon and played 33 minutes for the second time in as many games. Junior point guard Braeden Smith got his 14th straight start on Saturday at Santa Clara, but was replaced early in the first half by Saint-Supery, who was also part of Gonzaga’s five-man unit to open the second half at the Leavey Center.

Over the last two games, Saint-Supery has played 66 minutes to Smith’s nine and scored 22 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds compared to zero points, two assists and one rebound for his junior teammate. Saint-Supery finished with 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals against USF.

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“I thought Mario was really, really solid, he played heavy minutes tonight,” Few said on Wednesday. “I thought he did a really nice job. Six assists, one turnover, made his shots and was pretty solid on the defensive end.”

Prior to the Santa Clara game, Saint-Supery had exceeded 30 minutes just once this season, tallying 32 against Alabama at the Players Era Festival. The Malaga, Spain, native has been one of the most reliable perimeter shooters on a team that hasn’t been particularly strong in that area this season and accounted for two of Gonzaga’s five 3-pointers on Wednesday.

“He’s just been playing good, he’s playing good,” Few said. “He’s been playing good in big moments, so it was time to reward him a little bit.”

More history for Ike

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Outside of Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett, nobody in the WCC has seen more of Graham Ike than San Francisco’s Chris Gerlufsen, whose team matched up with the all-conference forward for the seventh time in three seasons on Wednesday.

Ike’s always been a challenging scout for the Dons, but has generally done most of his work within 10 feet of the basket while playing anywhere from 23-30 minutes per game in matchups with USF.

The forward’s offensive game and stamina have both evolved during his time in Spokane — things Gerlufsen and the Dons noticed on Wednesday, when Ike hit a variety of pull-up jump shots and step-back 3’s while logging a team-high 36 minutes.

“Graham Ike is one helluva player,” Gerflusen said. “His development of not only of his game, but his body, his conditioning. He never would’ve been able to play that many minutes. That says a lot about him, how he’s wired and how he’s built. I have a lot of respect for that. Just his ability to affect the game at the rim, at the midrange, now he’s making 3’s. Playing with a lot of swagger and a lot of confidence and certainly playing like a First Team All-American in my eyes.”

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Ike continues to make history for Gonzaga in his final year of eligibility. The Aurora, Colorado, native became the first GU player since Adam Morrison and Derek Raivio to score at least 20 points in eight consecutive games, tallying 22 points on 10 of 17 shooting and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line on Wednesday.

“I think there’s a lot of traffic in the paint right now and a lot of different coverages in there, so he’s stepping out, he’s showing he can make those shots,” Few said. “For the most part, most of them were pretty good shots. But there at the end, he kind of went back to the bread and butter and got in there and got himself some shots around the basket.”

Back to the Bay?

Few suspects his Gonzaga program will be back in the San Francisco Bay Area for future games after it leaves the West Coast Conference. There’s a good chance the Zags will be back at the Chase Center at some point.

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It’s unlikely, however, the opponents will be San Francisco, Saint Mary’s or Santa Clara — three of GU’s toughest contenders in the WCC over the last 30-plus years.

“It’s a great stop on the circuit and it’s a great city, I’ve got some great friends here now with Steve (Kerr) … Steph (Curry), great shared experiences with,” said Few, who worked under the Golden State Warriors coach and alongside the NBA sharpshooter two summers ago at the Paris Olympics. “It’s not like we won’t be back. We’ll play some one-off games here and we’ll be around. There’s NCAA Tournament games here coming very soon, there’s all that so I think we’ll be back.”

The Zags extended one of their most impressive streaks on Wednesday by beating the Dons for the 35th straight game.

“It’s unbelievable, our guys deserve all the credit,” Few said. “… They’ve had some great teams, some great coaches. Chris does a really, really good job and does a lot of different things offensively, a lot of different things defensively you don’t see. To be able to handle that all these years … Kyle Smith, Todd Golden and kind of the whole run.”

All spring and summer last year — consistently without missing a beat — cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. frequented the Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill. Now, with free agency two and a half weeks ago, Minnesota could once again be in the mix for Samuel Jr., who is free to sign anywhere in the NFL next month.

Samuel Jr.’s market looks softer this time, and that keeps the Vikings’ idea alive if they want a free-agent CB swing.

Zany rumors connected Samuel Jr. to the Vikings in 2025, but this go-round, it could be as simple as a recruiting pitch and a pen to paper.

Samuel Jr. Buzz Alive Again for Vikings

Last year’s Samuel Jr. agenda is alive and well.

SI.com Identifies Samuel Jr. as a Vikings FA Candidate

Samuel Jr. is probably gettable this offseason for a contract worth $10 million to $12 million over two years. He’s still very much in a “prove it” zone after a scary neck injury in 2024 and subsequent recovery throughout 2025.

SI.com’s Joe Nelson listed him as a Vikings free-agent target this week and noted, “There will be bidders for a player of Samuel’s caliber, but for a projected price of a one-year, $5.5 million prove-it deal, Samuel could be an ideal addition to Flores’ defense. He returned from a career-threatening neck injury to play seven games with the Steelers this past season, and he performed admirably.”

“He finished with a 70.1 defensive grade from PFF and a 68.0 coverage grade. He allowed seven catches on 10 passes into his coverage, and he also had an interception.”

After a year of theories from fans — one that even originated from Samuel Jr. allegedly wearing a Vikings hat in a Florida nightclub last offseason — Minnesota finally has a chance to put the man in purple. It won’t be terribly difficult.

Vikings Met with Him Last Year (Midseason)

Meanwhile, this relationship should already have inroads. Samuel Jr. went on a world tour of sorts in November 2025 before signing with the Steelers. One of his stops? Eagan, Minnesota — with the Vikings, presumably talking with head coach Kevin O’Connell, defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

The possible free-agent relationship this year already has the seed planted. Indeed, Samuel Jr. picked Pittsburgh over Minnesota, but with Mike Tomlin now removed from the Steelers, perhaps he’ll see the light and work for Flores. It’s not an outlandish take.

The Numbers

Samuel Jr. appeared in six games for the 2025 Steelers, banking 222 defensive snaps and a 67.2 Pro Football Focus grade.

In 2023, his last season as a full-time player, Samuel Jr. quietly posted one of his best years, earning a 73.9 PFF grade, a level of performance Minnesota would enjoy.

Here’s a look at his PFF grades since 2021:

• 2021: 56.4
• 2022: 72.6
• 2023: 73.9
• 2024: 59.3
• 2025: 67.2

Although his grade dipped in 2024, his performance in the previous two years indicates he can be a reliable starter. If the Vikings can get him back to his 2022–2023 form, the signing could prove to be a real win. He’s still young, has experience covering top receivers, and is a good fit for Flores’ man-heavy defensive scheme.

Financially, this appears to be a low-risk, short-term move. A one-year “prove it” deal should be relatively inexpensive.

PFF’s Mason Cameron made the case this week for Samuel Jr. to the New Orleans Saints, noting, “Now a free agent, the 26-year-old cornerback can navigate the market for a solid opportunity to reestablish himself. One enticing franchise that should pick up the phone is the Saints, pairing Samuel with his former coach and current Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.”

“Under Staley, Samuel enjoyed the best seasons of his career, earning 75.0-plus PFF coverage grades as a starter in both 2022 and 2023.”

Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor is on tap for free agency in 2.5 weeks.

Cameron added, “While the Saints aren’t in dire need of outside cornerback help, with young players Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley already in the fold, Samuel would be a high-upside, cost-effective depth option as New Orleans navigates Alontae Taylor’s expiring contract and Isaac Yiadom’s potential release.”

Would Samuel Jr. Be Enough at CB?

Suppose the Vikings make the Samuel Jr. rumor come true, alas. The 2026 cornerback room would look like this before the draft:

• Byron Murphy Jr.
• Isaiah Rodgers
• Asante Samuel Jr.
• Dwight McGlothern
• Zemaiah Vaughn

Minnesota would then have a decision to get filthy deep at cornerback, possibly drafting a Round 1 corner like Mansoor Delane (LSU), Avieon Terrell (Clemson), Jermod McCoy (Tennessee), Colton Hood (Tennessee), or Brandon Cisse (South Carolina). The upcoming draft is already known for cornerback depth, so Flores and friends might be in good hands.

Even without a shiny CB in Round 1, the Vikings could be in decent shape with the above-listed roster, assuming they sign a veteran CB4, like Fabian Moreau from the last couple of seasons.

Samuel Jr. will turn 27 in October.

Zimbabwe players celebrate during the match against Sri Lanka during the T20 World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Getty Images)

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: It was a three-and-a-half-hour party at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday. The match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe was a dead rubber, but fans didn’t disappoint, nor did the 2026 T20 World Cup “underdogs” — Zimbabwe.There were around 30,000 Sri Lankans with drum bands in each of the stands cheering for the co-hosts. But there were also a handful of Zimbabwean fans clapping, shouting, dancing and making their presence felt whenever a Sri Lankan wicket fell or when Sikandar Raza tonked long sixes into the stands.

Zimbabwe’s 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani says he has never played in front of such a big crowd. “It was really loud and that was my first experience actually. It was really exciting and a bit nerve-racking,” he told reporters in the ICC mixed zone after his team’s thumping six-wicket win over Sri Lanka.The atmosphere must have been intimidating for Zimbabwe cricketers, but they crossed the finish line. There was hardly any celebration after Brian Bennett hit the winning runs.“I don’t think anybody gave us a chance to be where we are. To win people’s hearts and earn their respect, it’s a wonderful position to be in,” Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said at the post-match presentation.Inspirational leader

Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza leads his team onto the field during the T20 World Cup cricket match against Sri Lanka in Colombo. (AP)

At the post-match presentation, Sikandar Raza told former Zimbabwe cricketer and commentator Pommie Mbangwa how everybody loves an underdog story.Zimbabwe had already defeated two previous champions, Australia and Sri Lanka, in the group stage. In the Super Eight, they will lock horns against two-time champions West Indies and India, and South Africa, the runners-up of the previous edition. Zimbabwe captain Raza calls his team underdogs, but by no means are they pushovers. They are gaining momentum and have a skipper who knows a thing or two about chasing against the odds.After humbling Sri Lanka, Raza vowed his side is not done; reaching the Super Eight is simply part of a larger goal to bring lasting recognition to cricket in his country.“If we can win two out of three games, who knows what can happen. Everyone loves an underdog story,” said Raza, oozing confidence after conquering Colombo.

In a professional career spanning close to two decades, the 39-year-old Raza has seen more dark days than shiny ones.Raza’s journey from Sialkot in Pakistan to Zimbabwe was far from straightforward. It took him through unexpected detours that included dreams of becoming a pilot and earning a degree in computing from a university in Glasgow, before cricket finally took centre stage after his family moved to Africa.After some sombre years in international cricket, followed by a life-threatening bone marrow infection in 2021, the all-rounder, now in the twilight of his career, has reinvented himself as a bonafide globetrotter across T20 leagues worldwide.For Marumani, Raza is an inspirational figure whom everyone looks up to. “A person like Raz in our changing room, who’s played all around the world, who’s played more franchise leagues and who’s been in different changing rooms, I think that experience and that inspiration coming from him has played a really big role for everyone in our changing room,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s Graeme Cremer, left, celebrates with captain Sikandar Raza the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

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Meanwhile, Zimbabwe assistant coach Dion Ebrahim suggests the squad and coaching staff are in the presence of brilliance with Raza around.“He is a global superstar. He is up there with the greats and he will go down as one of the greats. I’m personally pleased to be in the presence of brilliance,” he said.When coaxed on what Raza brings to the dressing room, the former player added: “He brings all those superlatives. You could say the inspiration, the motivation, the passion. But what he does consistently is lead through his actions. He’s vocal in the dressing room, but people follow him because of the brilliance he performs with and his level of intensity. He is meticulous in how he prepares and consistently tries to improve, and I think that’s what keeps him going at the level he’s operating at.”David vs Goliath

India and Zimbabwe cricket team (Agency Image)

In a week’s time, Zimbabwe will be up against favourites India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.“I think rankings and every other measurement will state us as the underdogs, which is perfectly fine. When we came into the World Cup this year, we were definitely the underdogs in the group, and it’s a place we like to operate in,” said Ebrahim.“The advantage of being underdogs is that we go into these games with very little pressure, while most of it sits with India, playing at home, in familiar conditions, in a format they have grown stronger in over time.“Our biggest challenge will be ensuring we are not overwhelmed by the occasion, the crowd or the atmosphere, especially when India inevitably gain momentum. The confidence from today’s win, where we wrestled back momentum multiple times in front of a strong Sri Lankan crowd, helps.“In terms of preparation and planning, we are comfortable that we have ticked the right boxes. T20 is a fickle format, often decided by a moment or two. We just need to keep performing at the level we know we are capable of, as we have over the last three games,” said the batting coach.The fall and the rise of Zimbabwe cricket

Zimbabwe’s players celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Ben Dwarshuis during the T20 World Cup cricket match. (AP/PTI)

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After missing out on the previous T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean, Zimbabwe were forced into sub-regional qualifiers against teams such as Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles and Gambia. Defeats to Namibia and Uganda at the African finals in 2023 meant the world’s 11th-ranked side became the only Test nation to miss the 2024 event, pushing them to restart their next qualification cycle from the bottom in Kenya.Australia, as joint hosts with New Zealand, are assured of a place at the 2028 T20 World Cup despite an early exit this year, their first group-stage elimination since 2009. Zimbabwe, in contrast, have already sealed qualification for 2028 by knocking Australia out and reaching the Super Eight, completing a remarkable turnaround after years of navigating the hard way through qualifiers.Zimbabwe’s history at major ICC tournaments has been a rollercoaster. It dates back to their maiden 50-over World Cup appearance in 1983, when they announced themselves on the global stage by stunning Australia by 13 runs in the nation’s first-ever ODI.More recently, Zimbabwe’s struggles at major tournaments have been stark. They failed to qualify for the 10-team ODI World Cup in England in 2019 for the first time in 36 years after losing to the UAE at a global qualifier hosted at home. The setbacks continued as they missed the 2021 T20 World Cup following an ICC suspension over government interference, and then fell short again in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup in India after home defeats to Sri Lanka and Scotland.

Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan by one run in the 2022 T20 World Cup. (PTI)

There were brief highs. Zimbabwe reached the Super Eight stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup for the first time and stunned Pakistan by one run in Perth. But a shock five-wicket loss to Uganda in 2023 marked a new low. Sikandar Raza later said that humiliation triggered a shift in mindset, setting Zimbabwe on a new path that has now delivered their best showing at a major tournament since 1999, when they beat India and South Africa.“I remember when we were told that we had to play the sub-regional Qualifier B in Kenya,” Raza said after his side secured their spot in the Super Eight with a washout against Ireland on Tuesday.“I remember sitting down with the squad and saying either we feel sorry for ourselves and be ashamed or understand the reality. The reality was that it was because of us that we were in this mess and only we could get ourselves out of it. We got together and worked towards a singular goal, which was to win the qualifiers, get to the World Cup and then write our own history and story.“We all sat down and laid out a plan. Along the way, we knew we would have bad games and that a lot of criticism would come our way. But if we stayed true to our plan, kept trusting each other and created a better culture and environment for the team to thrive in, we would be fine. To see the results after almost two years is certainly very pleasing.”