Ramiz Raja defends Babar Azam, blasts PCB for decimating Pakistan cricket

Former cricketer Ramiz Raja is infuriated with Pakistan’s bowling performance in the ongoing ODI World Cup. Recently he called out players like Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi for their below-par performance in the tournament and now, he once again dashed them and stated that Babar Azam shouldn’t be criticised because he believes that it’s the bowlers who have let them down.

Notably, Pakistan have failed to qualify for the semi-finals after finishing fifth on the World Cup points table. Following which, Raja not only lashed out at the bowlers but also called out PCB officials and questioned their role in it. He also pointed out that changing the captain and the coaching staff is not the solution as he believes that passion is lacking in Pakistan cricket.

“Jab naye ball se wickets nahi lenge, aap expensive hote jayenge toh Babar Azam kya khaak kapataani karega? 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?

“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,” Raja said on his YouTube channel.

You want your cricket to progress by appointing a 70-year-old? : Raja

After Inzamam-ul-Haq resigned from the post of chief selector, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf appointed Tauseef Ahmed as the interim chief selector. Taking a dig at him, Ramiz Raja stated that the team cannot with a 70-year-old in charge who has dashed Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the past.

“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?” Raja said.