Local coach in Harare suspended after Raza files complaint alleging racial abuse

Sikandar Raza has lodged a complaint with the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association (HMCA), accusing a local coach - Blessing Mafuwa - of racial abuse during a Vigne Cup game on June 1.

Raza was playing for Old Hararians against Rainbow Cricket Club at the Old Hararians Sports Club when the alleged incident took place. ESPNcricinfo has seen the complaint Raza has filed. He alleged that Mafuwa made derogatory comments towards him when he was walking off the field.

While Raza didn't name Mafuwa, HMCA chairperson Tafadzwa Madoro did*.

Responding to a query on the matter from ESPNcricinfo, Madoro said on late Sunday night, "We received a report of racial abuse that our T20 captain [Raza] suffered, last week. We are in the process of investigating. Blessing Mafuwa will attend a hearing this coming Tuesday. He will answer charges from the report. In the interim, he is suspended from all activities in the HMCA.

"We don't take racism allegations lightly. We don't condone any racial abuse in HMCA. We will want to investigate this as quickly as possible."

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo on Sunday evening, Raza had said he expected "a full investigation" of the incident. "If found guilty, an example should be made out of him so that stuff like this never happens again to this and future generations," Raza said.

During the match, Raza struck 78 off 56 balls as his club made 402 for 9 in 50 overs. In reply, Rainbow made 225 for 8 in 39 overs, losing the game by 142 runs via the DLS method.

Raza recently won the PSL 2025 title with Lahore Qalandars, hitting the winning runs in a dramatic final in Lahore. This was Raza's second T20 franchise trophy in 2025 after the ILT20.