Shoaib Akhtar backed Ramiz Raja’s appointment as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and said that the former Pakistan captain has been brought on board to make aggressive changes. According to Akhtar, Raja won’t spare the PCB’s current management.

Ramiz Raja had met the Pakistan PM Imran Khan, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of the PCB, and presented him with his vision of what Pakistan cricket should look in the future and gave a roadmap of the same to the PM. Imran then greenlighted his appointment and Raja will take over as PCB chief, replacing Ehsan Mani.

Speaking to Geo Pakistan, Akhtar backed Ramiz Raja to do a good job as the new PCB chairman.

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"A lot of people think that since Ramiz himself wasn't such a strong cricketer himself, he wouldn't be able to reform Pakistan cricket. However, I do not share this opinion. I don't think he will spare (the incumbent) management. He will make aggressive changes. He has been brought on board (by Prime Minister Imran Khan) to make aggressive changes,” Akhtar said.

Shoaib feels Ramiz Raja could work towards making Pakistan cricket more aggressive which has been missing for recent years.

"Back in the '90s, we used to play with aggression. He has been a part of the team during those days, he knows all about it. Our batting line-up was full of aggressive players. Pakistan has found talented bowlers (lately) but in patches. Fine, we do have Hasan Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Shaheen Afridi. But we are missing that X factor,” Akhtar added.  

Akhtar also revealed that he wants Ramiz Rama to focus on reforming club cricket in Pakistan and organizing tournaments to promote local talent.