Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza won’t be seen in action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with an infection in his bone marrow. He had suspected it to be cancerous at one stage but after the surgery on 2nd April to remove the tumour, Raza has been cleared of any serious illness. However, it might take him several weeks to get back to normal. The recovery period won’t be easy but given the toughness of Raza, he should sail through the process.
Raza is currently at home is undergoing cycles of meditation and injections. Raza revealed that he first felt severe pain in his right arm during the series against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi last month. He was part of the Playing XI in both Tests and three T20Is. The series ended on 20th March and Raza returned to Harare to see a specialist. Tests revealed that it was much more serious than regular muscle pain.
"I had pain in my right arm during the Abu Dhabi Tests," Raza told ESPNcricinfo. "We treated like it was muscular pain initially but the pain kept getting worse. I remember staying up all night, unable to sleep despite having sleeping pills. That's how I played the Test matches.
"After coming home, the ultrasound showed that the muscles are all fine. The MRI showed that I had a foreign or alien substance on my bone marrow. Seeing this the surgeon told me that this substance could make my shoulder bone so weak that I could fracture it by just throwing a ball. He suggested that I do a biopsy right away. I wanted to wait till the Pakistan series but he insisted otherwise. He said that due to the deformity seen in my bicep bone, they were suspecting cancer."
Raza decided to go for surgery instantaneously and it was only on Tuesday evening that he found out that he had an infection in his bone marrow. "I went under the knife within the next 48 hours. They opened up my bicep by drilling the bone. They created a hole to take out some puss and red substance."
"All of this was sent it for a biopsy, and it came back as negative. There was a type of infection but only last night the bone biopsy report ruled out cancer," he said.
Raza further added that it will take him a long time to recover fully and he will definitely miss playing against Pakistan in the ongoing series. "I have been ruled out indefinitely. There's no set date for my return. Of course, this not being cancerous has suddenly fast-tracked some of it."
"After the lab professor studies my MRI, I will apparently be on medication and jab for the next six months. We want to treat it aggressively so that I don't get the infection again. I am very sure that I have three to five more weeks of doing nothing if everything goes smoothly,” Raza said.
Meanwhile, Raza also expressed his regard towards the Zimbabwe Cricket officials and thanked them. It included chairman Tavenga Mukuhlani, managing director Givemore Makoni and team physio Trevor Wamble for taking his special care.
"Allah was very kind. He gave me a lot of strength but people like our physio Trevor Wambe helped me through this. He was by my side in Abu Dhabi, giving me a lot of time. When we got back to Zimbabwe, he ran around with me with the scans and tests." Raza spoke about the help that he got.
"When ZC found out what the doctors suggesting seeing my MRI, Givemore Makoni, the MD, and chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani got very worried. They were very supportive, even contacting other boards and telling me that they would send me anywhere else for better treatment." Raza further added.
"My family, friends and team-mates were also very supportive. Alhamdullilah when the report came last night, it put me and my family at ease. There were tears of joy in my family," he said.