Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain, has blasted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stating that the country’s cricket has “collapsed.”
The Green Shirts were eliminated from the World Cup 2023 on Saturday after failing to restrict England to a low score and failing to chase down the target in the required overs to overtake New Zealand in net run rate (NRR) and move to the semi-finals.
The Men in Green’s performance worsened further as they were defeated by the reigning champions by 93 runs in their last-round match and were bowled out at 244 runs while chasing England’s 338-run target.
In a candid discussion on his YouTube channel, the former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed strong criticism of the team’s performance, management decisions, and the overall state of cricket in the country.
The former chairman highlighted the challenges faced by the team’s captain, Babar Azam, particularly when bowlers struggle to take wickets with the new ball and become expensive in terms of conceding runs. He questioned the PCB’s approach of seeking advice from ex-cricketers to address cricketing issues, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive strategy beyond changing captains and coaching staff.
The ex-cricketer urged an end to the practice of leaking news and giving statements during major events, pointing out that such actions can be detrimental to team morale and public perception. He also criticized the appointment of the interim chief selector, Tauseef Ahmed, questioning the wisdom of selecting someone who has made negative comments about players like Babar and Mohammad Rizwan in the past.
Asserting the necessity of passion for the game, he argued that fundamental changes are required in the mindset of those responsible for Pakistan’s cricket. He specifically called for ending the practice of leaking news to favored reporters, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability.
Expressing concern about the state of Pakistan cricket, the former chairman addressed issues with local clubs, stating that the system needs a complete overhaul. He pointed out the challenges faced by clubs in securing practice grounds and criticized the prioritization of tennis-ball cricket organized by companies over traditional club matches.
The former PCB chairman emphasized the need for a systemic change within the cricket board itself. He painted a bleak picture of Pakistan cricket, stating that the entire system must transform to address the existing challenges. Pakistan’s World Cup campaign ended with eight points out of a possible 18, marking their fifth failure to qualify for the semi-finals this century.
