BAN vs ZIM: Sikandar Raza mimics Cristiano Ronaldo, removes Coca Cola bottles from the table [WATCH]

In a move reminiscent of star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, Zimbabwe’s cricket team captain, Sikandar Raza, took a swipe at sponsors during a press meet for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh.

Sikandar Raza removes Coca Cola bottles from the table

Raza was seen on camera deliberately picking up bottles of Coca-Cola, a major sponsor of the event, and placing them out of sight under the table. This act mirrored Ronaldo’s now-famous gesture at Euro 2020, where he pushed aside bottles of the same beverage, promoting water instead.

Sikandar Raza did a Cristiano Ronaldo, and removed the Coca Cola bottles from the press conference in Bangladesh today. Respect ❤️ #BANvZIM @SRazaB24 #Palestine pic.twitter.com/FUc4cnMI1V

— Safeera Kiran (@itssafeera77) May 2, 2024

The reasons behind Raza’s actions remain unclear. Ronaldo, a known advocate for healthy living, had earlier expressed his disapproval of sugary drinks. Whether Raza shares similar sentiments or was making a different statement entirely is yet to be determined.

This incident has sparked discussions on athlete sponsorship deals and the influence they hold. It remains to be seen if Raza will face any repercussions from the event organizers or Coca-Cola themselves. The act is sure to generate significant buzz on social media and cricket forums in the coming days.

Here’s the video:

🚨 Sikandar Raza removed the Coca-Cola bottle from the table. 👀

[Clip Credit: @BDCricTime] pic.twitter.com/zmpOUqlWYJ

— Shamim. (@ShamimCricSight) May 2, 2024

Also READ: Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe 2024, T20I series – Date, Match Time, Venue, Squads, Broadcast and Live Streaming details

Bangladesh gears up for the T20 World Cup with Zimbabwe series

With the T20 World Cup fast approaching (kicking off June 2nd), Bangladesh will use the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe as a crucial preparation step.

Zimbabwe, who fell short of qualifying for the World Cup after losses to Namibia and Uganda in the Africa Region Qualifier, will be looking to upset the higher-ranked Bangladesh team (currently 9th in the ICC T20I rankings). Led by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh are the clear favourites on home soil.

However, under the leadership of Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe are determined to challenge Bangladesh and potentially disrupt their T20 WC preparations.