Star allrounder says he couldn’t follow Mini Auction due to poor internet connectivity

Pakistan-born Sikandar Raza has been bought by Punjab in the recently-concluded Indian T20 League 2023 player auction. He registered himself at a base price of 50 lakhs. When his name came up, the 2014 finalists jumped in with the opening bid. With no bidders in competition, the Mohali-based team managed to nab the services of the Sialkot-born player. At the time, Raza was in a middle of a meeting.

He revealed that when the bidding on him was about to start, he lost his internet connection as he shifted to a different room. However, the right-hander added that after reconnecting the internet, he started getting congratulatory messages. The Zimbabwe player further added that in hindsight, it was a good thing that he wasn’t able to watch the bidding.

‘what, I can’t see it. Are you guys playing a prank?’ They said to check the auction. I said I am checking but I haven’t even been up there.”

“What happened was, by the time I reconnected, I had gone already. So basically I didn’t see the bid. Maybe that was a good thing actually. I reckon it’s a good thing. If I was watching, I would have shouted in the meeting!” Raza told ESPN Cricinfo; the meeting he was referring is the anti-corruption meeting that was being conducted for the players in domestic T20 league in Nepal.

Before hanging my boots, I wanted to play in the Indian T20 League: Sikandar Raja

Talking about the former Trinbago Knight Riders player in the CPL, he has played quite a few T20 Leagues. The 36-year-old revealed that he wanted to play the biggest T20 League before retiring from the game

“It was part of my thinking that before I hang my boots up, it would be nice to have the ITL on my CV.” “Alhamdulillah (thank God) it has happened. I am really happy, humble and excited at the same time. I would have [been fine with] any franchise but to have a Punjabi munda in Punjab, it is a great match.”