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Brandon Moyo, [email protected]

ZIMBABWE international cricket star, Sikandar Raza has said he stands by his words that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest franchise league on the planet after he was asked a comparison question on which is the best league.

The IPL is the most lucrative league in the world and having played in various leagues all over the globe, the Chevrons’ T20I captain has been subjected to a number of comparison questions between the IPL and other leagues such as the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

In an interview with Pakistani writer, Saj Sadiq, Raza cleared the air on his thoughts of IPL being the best while also saying that he dislikes it when he is asked comparison questions. 

The all-rounder added that his opinion regarding the leagues is his honest one following misquotations in an interview he had done earlier.

The Chevrons stalwart was misquoted when he was asked a comparison question between the IPL and the PSL.

“The question I was asked was is the IPL better than the PSL and my answer was; first of all I hate people asking me comparison questions, you ask me a general question and the general question they asked was is the IPL the best league and I said yes the IPL is the biggest league on the planet,” said Raza.

He went on to add that there is nothing wrong with saying that the IPL is the biggest league in the world, and having played all over, he stands by his words. He expressed disappointment at people interpreting his words in other ways. 

Sikandar Raza

“IPL is the biggest league on the planet, I have been to IPL and I have been to other leagues in the world and if you ask me a question you can expect nothing but all honesty and in my honest opinion, IPL is the biggest league in the world and there is nothing wrong with saying that and people do not want it or like it but what. 

I did not enjoy is that people did not listen to my interview, people listen to the bits of those interviews and combine together and say I said that, I never said that, I said I hate people asking me comparison questions between cricketers, between leagues and between anything.

“So ask me a general question and my answer was IPL is the biggest league on the planet and I still stand by it,” said Raza.

In his illustrious career, has played in leagues such as the PSL, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Lankan Premier League (LPL), International League T20 (ILT20), Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and also the IPL among many others.

In the IPL, he is in the books of Punjab Kings for the second consecutive season after making his debut last season. 

He is also set to become the first Zimbabwean international to play in England’s The Hundred tournament after he was bought by Manchester Originals for the 2024 edition. 

– @brandon_malvin