Pakistan cricket team entered into the World Cup 2023 with a lot of expectations but it turned out to be a disastrous campaign for them.

The Men in Green failed to qualify for the semi-finals as they managed to register only four wins out of their nine league games.

On Saturday (November 11), Pakistan bowed out of the showpiece tournament with a crushing 93-run defeat at the hands of England in Kolkata.

After this dismal show, Pakistani cricketers are receiving flak from all quarters. In particular, skipper Babar Azam is facing the wrath of the fans, former players and cricket experts alike.

Amid the scrutiny, former Pakistan captain-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja has come out in defence of Babar and he also blamed the current PCB regime for destroying Pakistan cricket.

“Jab naye ball se wickets nahi lenge, aap expensive hote jayenge toh Babar Azam kya khaak kapataani karega (When bowlers will not take wickets with the new ball and start getting expensive, how would Babar do captaincy then?,” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel.

“And then they (PCB) would gather some ex-cricketers and ask them how to fix cricket? Who put them in charge (of the board)? Is their job just to huddle together and change the captain and the coaching staff and everyone would think they have taken a major step?,” he added.

Ramiz, who was sacked as PCB chief earlier this year, slammed current chairman Zaka Ashraf and the newly-appointed interim chief selector Tauseef Ahmed.

“Not even an inch of Pakistan’s cricket can get better if you don’t have passion for the game. You need to change yourself and your mindset. You need to shut this process of leaking news to your favourite reporters,” he remarked.

“The new chief selector that you’ve appointed, look at his old clips and how badly he has talked about Babar and Rizwan, you want your cricket to progress by appointing a 70-year-old who knows nothing about selection?”

Ramiz Raja also went on to claim that Pakistan cricket has collapsed and it can be seen in the local clubs.

“Pakistan cricket has collapsed. You can’t bat, bowl or field with spikes in club matches. On weekends, the grounds where clubs practice are given to the companies to organise tennis-ball cricket because it gives them [the clubs] money.”

“This entire system needs to change and the board should change itself first,” he concluded.