Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja made an explosive claim as he talked about Pakistan and India's performances during his tenure. Raja was recently sacked as the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, post the 0-3 Test series loss at home to England in which the hosts were pummeled into submission.
This led to Raja being removed as PCB chief after 15 months with Najam Sethi taking over. The 2019 PCB constitution was replaced by the 2014 one. In addition, Shahid Afridi replaced Mohammad Wasim as a chief selector with Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum joining the former Pakistan captain in the panel.
During Ramiz Raja's tenure, Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Pakistan also played in the final of the Asia Cup 2022, but couldn’t win in the finals of these tournaments.
Ramiz Raja insisted that Pakistan's performances were “outstanding” in white-ball cricket. India couldn’t digest seeing the neighbors getting so much success and was forced to make wholesale changes to their setup.
PCB responds after Ramiz Raja launches scathing attack on board’s new regime
“We gave outstanding performances in white-ball cricket. We played the Asia Cup final, India didn't play that. India, a billion-dollar industry, was left behind. Tod phod hui, unhone apna chief selector, selection committee fire kar di, captain badal diye kyunki unko hazam nahi hua ki Pakistan unse kaise aage nikal gaya. (They fired their chief selector, selection committee, changed the captain because they couldn't digest how Pakistan went ahead of them),” Ramiz told Suno TV.
Talking about his own fate as PCB chairman, Ramiz said, “This is just like France firing their entire board even after they played in the FIFA World Cup final.”
He further added that it was he who kept the Pakistan team united and empowered captain Babar Azam which helped the Men in Green perform so inexplicably well.
“I tried my level best to keep this team united. I empowered Babar Azam. Cricket is one of those rare sports where captaincy is relevant. If your captain is powerful, results will come, and we have given results,” said Ramiz.
Pakistan had lost one match to India in Asia Cup 2022 and defeated them once as well, while lost to India in the T20 World Cup 2022 in an epic match in MCG.
