Ramiz Raja reveals he plotted Rohit Sharma's wicket with Babar Azam ahead of T20 World Cup 2021

Shaheen Afridi had dismissed Rohit Sharma on a duck in the India-Pakistan encounter.

By - 04 Dec, 2021

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja revealed he and captain Babar Azam had plotted Indian opener Rohit Sharma's wicket even before the T20 World Cup 2021 started. India and Pakistan had begun their campaign with a face-off against each other, which the latter won by 10 wickets.

Rohit is currently among the most impactful white-ball batters around the world. Getting him out early gives an advantage to the opposition, and Pakistan were successful in dismissing him on a duck.

It was Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi who dismissed Rohit and KL Rahul inside the powerplay which pushed India on the backfoot. India had managed only 151/7 in 20 overs, and Pakistan chased it down in 17.5 overs with all 10 wickets in hand.

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Speaking in a podcast interview with the BBC, Ramiz said, "Babar Azam was here with the Chief Selector before leaving for the World Cup and I asked him what are your plans against India. Babar then replied, 'I have plans and we employ Cricviz and they do the matchups'." 

The PCB chief added, "I understand but India will also be using Cricviz and then they will have a ploy set up against you. So, that becomes nothing for us."

Ramiz explained the plan to Babar to remove Rohit early and said don't let the India opener take a single and keep him on strike. "I can tell you how to get rid of Rohit Sharma right now and Babar was intrigued." 

He added, "I said get Shaheen Afridi bowling at 100mph, get a man at short-leg and a 45. Just bowl that inswinging yorker at 100mph and do not give him a single and keep him on strike. You will get him out."

(With BBC Podcast Inputs)

By - 04 Dec, 2021

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