Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza has survived a cancer scare after he underwent an emergency bone marrow biopsy following fears of a cancerous infection in his right arm.
The 34-year-old had complained about experiencing a lot of pain during Zimbabwe's Test and T20I assignment against Afghanistan in the UAE in March, before he visited a specialist to examine his injury.
The doctor suggested the possibility of a tumour in his arm since there was an abnormal growth in his bone. He later had a successful surgery to remove the tumour and is now recovering from the infection that threatened to prolong his injury woes.
Sikandar expressed his delight at being cleared of cancer and tumour on social media as he was inundated with messages of comfort from the cricket fraternity and fans, desiring to watch him in action soon on the field.
"I want to thank you all for your prayers. Prayers certainly were answered and I’ve been cleared of Tumor and Cancer which is nothing short of a miracle. I am short of words to express and show how grateful I am to you all for your prayers," Sikandar wrote on Twitter.
The excruciating muscle pain felt by Sikandar could have been exacerbated had he delayed the operation to surgically eliminate the tumour. He was thus not included in the national squad for the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan in Harare. Sikandar was spotted watching his team play from the sidelines with his affected arm in a sling to ease the process of rehabilitation.
Having made his international debut in 2013, the Sialkot-born cricketer has gone on to establish himself as one of Zimbabwe's mainstays in the international circuit. Last year, Sikandar made his 100th ODI appearance for Zimbabwe - a testament to his longevity and consistency.
He has registered some memorable performances for his adopted country with both bat and ball, as his skill has also been sought by several franchises in different leagues around the globe.
The 34-year-old had complained about experiencing a lot of pain during Zimbabwe's Test and T20I assignment against Afghanistan in the UAE in March, before he visited a specialist to examine his injury.
The doctor suggested the possibility of a tumour in his arm since there was an abnormal growth in his bone. He later had a successful surgery to remove the tumour and is now recovering from the infection that threatened to prolong his injury woes.
Sikandar expressed his delight at being cleared of cancer and tumour on social media as he was inundated with messages of comfort from the cricket fraternity and fans, desiring to watch him in action soon on the field.
"I want to thank you all for your prayers. Prayers certainly were answered and I’ve been cleared of Tumor and Cancer which is nothing short of a miracle. I am short of words to express and show how grateful I am to you all for your prayers," Sikandar wrote on Twitter.
The excruciating muscle pain felt by Sikandar could have been exacerbated had he delayed the operation to surgically eliminate the tumour. He was thus not included in the national squad for the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan in Harare. Sikandar was spotted watching his team play from the sidelines with his affected arm in a sling to ease the process of rehabilitation.
Having made his international debut in 2013, the Sialkot-born cricketer has gone on to establish himself as one of Zimbabwe's mainstays in the international circuit. Last year, Sikandar made his 100th ODI appearance for Zimbabwe - a testament to his longevity and consistency.
He has registered some memorable performances for his adopted country with both bat and ball, as his skill has also been sought by several franchises in different leagues around the globe.
