Drama in PSL: Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza fires back at Pakistan's Imad Wasim over 'money' remark
Zimbabwe cricketer Sikandar Raza, who is currently playing for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, has responded to remarks earlier made by former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim. The comments date back to last year, when Imad spoke about Raza’s late arrival for the PSL 10 final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Raza had taken partial leave from the Qalandars squad to play a one-off Test for Zimbabwe against England in Nottingham.
That match ended late on Saturday night (Pakistan Standard Time), which put his availability for the final in doubt. However, Raza rejoined the Qalandars just minutes before the toss and took the field against Quetta Gladiators. When Imad was asked to describe Raza in one word, he instead spoke about the demands of franchise cricket.
“Like Shoaib Akhtar said — money can do things for you,” Imad had remarked. “If you’re getting paid, you’ll go. I travel a lot too.
Sometimes one match ends, and the next day you’re playing another. I have travelled 24 hours straight and gone directly into a match. So yes, money can make different things happen.
” In a recent interview with a local sports platform, Raza addressed those comments and said his decision was not about money. He said he had in fact lost money by missing earlier matches. “Regarding Imad Wasim’s comments about money being my motivation to return and play the PSL final — money was not the motivating factor,” Raza said, as quoted by Pakistan-based news outlet Geo Super.