Zimbabwe's T20I captain Sikandar Raza confronts unimaginable sorrow following the heartbreaking death of his younger brother, Muhammad Mahdi, aged just 13, on December 29, 2025, in Harare.
The child, who
bravely fought haemophilia, a debilitating genetic disorder from birth, passed due to recent health complications and was laid to rest the next day at Warren Hills Cemetery.
Raza, revered for his explosive all-round prowess across global T20 leagues, had poured heart into Sharjah Warriorz during ILT20 2025, smashing 171 runs and snaring 10 wickets in 10 outings despite the side's bottom-table finish. Off the field, this personal catastrophe strikes deep; Zimbabwe Cricket's poignant statement rallied the entire fraternity-board, management, players, and staff-offering solace and invoking prayers for eternal peace. Raza's simple yet shattering response, a broken heart emoji on X, mirrored the world's quiet empathy for a man who's captained Zimbabwe through highs like spirited World Cup qualifications and lows of inconsistent campaigns.
What is Haemophilia?
Haemophilia, often dubbed the "royal disease" from European history, stems from deficiencies in clotting factors VIII (Type A) or IX (Type B), inherited via the X chromosome and predominantly striking males. Victims endure excessive bleeding from trivial injuries, spontaneous joint hemorrhages causing arthritis-like pain, and life-threatening internal bleeds without prompt intervention. Management hinges on regular infusions of clotting factors, prophylactic therapies, and gene therapy trials, yet in developing nations like Zimbabwe, access remains uneven, amplifying tragedies like Mahdi's. Globally, it impacts 1 in 5,000 males, underscoring the need for awareness and research.
Unyielding, Raza gears up to helm Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026 (Feb-Mar), pitted in a formidable group with Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Oman-their curtain-raiser versus Oman on February 9.
