By BBC Sport

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza says he would return to play with Worcestershire “in a heartbeat” following the end of his T20 Blast deal.

The 40-year-old had a successful nine-game stint at New Road, scoring 258 runs, with a strike rate of 144 and taking nine wickets, conceding just over 6.5 runs per over and with a best of 4-17.

He signed off with a knock of 43 from 31 balls and figures of 2-8 from three overs in Friday’s thumping 83-run win over Kent.

Raza is now in the process of joining up with Zimbabwe for their white-ball series at home to Bangladesh, with three T20 internationals this month, followed by three more against India.

“I hold my international commitments with Zimbabwe, very high. I made a promise with them that I’ll not miss a white-ball game,” Raza told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

“So, as much as it’s sad [to leave Worcestershire], I’m actually happy that I’m going to represent my country, which is for me the ultimate honour.”

‘I have loved it’

Despite losing Raza’s services, Worcestershire carried on their winning momentum against Glamorgan on Sunday, beating the Welsh county by 15 runs in Cardiff to stay on course for a place in the Blast quarter-finals.

Reflecting on his time with the Rapids, Raza said he would love the chance to link back up with the Pears.

“Hopefully when the opportunity comes and Worcestershire want me back. I’ll come back in a heartbeat,” he said.

“I think enjoy is not the word. I have loved it. I’ve loved being part of the family.

“The beauty about this was I wasn’t just family in the changing room, or to the Worcester cricket community, I think I became a family to the whole county and everyone who came to the ground.

“I know they accepted me and welcomed me like family and I have loved being part of this family.”

Worcestershire are third in their group, level on 24 points with Gloucestershire, with two matches remaining.

The top two from each of the three groups, and the two best third-placed teams, qualify for next week’s quarter-finals.