Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza believes Associate nations have come much closer to Full Member teams in T20 cricket and says the gap is shrinking fast ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Speaking before Zimbabwe’s opening match of the tournament, Raza said the growth of Associate sides has been clear over the last few years. He feels teams ranked just outside the traditional powers are now strong, confident, and capable of beating anyone on their day.
“First of all, I do think all the Associate nations have caught up with the T20 format with the Test Nations rated especially maybe from 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. So credit to all the Associate countries how they have grown in T20 format, and rightly so. And hopefully the game can keep spreading and the gap can be even smaller.”
Raza pointed out that recent World Cup results have shown how competitive these teams have become. Matches like the USA pushing India and Nepal taking England deep into games prove that underdogs are no longer easy opponents in T20 cricket.
According to Raza, franchise leagues around the world have played a big role in this change. Associate players now regularly feature in leagues across continents, gaining experience against top international stars.
“And of course with the help of franchise cricket as well, a lot of those Associate cricketers do find all those franchise gigs here and there as well and they take those lessons and learnings back home. Thanks to all those factors, T20 cricket has been brought a lot closer,” he concluded.
He believes these learnings have helped Associate teams improve their skills, game awareness, and confidence. When players return home, they lift the overall standard of their national sides, making contests more competitive at global events.
Zimbabwe begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Oman in Colombo. They are placed in a challenging group that also includes Ireland, Sri Lanka, and defending champions Australia.
Raza feels Zimbabwe’s group reflects the modern reality of T20 cricket, where no match can be taken lightly. He said teams must prepare well because even a small slip-up can cost a game in such a fast-moving format.
With Associate nations becoming more battle-tested and fearless, Raza’s message to traditional powers is clear. T20 cricket is no longer predictable, and the days of easy wins are fading fast.