Zimbabwe's qualification marks a stark contrast to November 2023 when they missed out on the 2024 T20 World Cup. At 39, Raza has been the fittest player in the squad, leading from the front with both bat and ball, including a 26-ball 45 against Sri Lanka.
Former opener Dion Ebrahim called Raza a "global superstar" after Zimbabwe's victory over Sri Lanka, with the all-rounder sitting second in the ICC T20 allrounder rankings after scoring 2958 runs and taking 103 wickets in 130 matches for Zimbabwe.