I told Babar Azam how to get Rohit Sharma out: Ramiz Raja

Pakistan had an impressive run in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2021. The team locked horns with arch-rivals India in the opening fixture of the tournament. They dominated the proceedings against the Men in Blue wherein pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi wreaked havoc with his exceptional spell.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has now opened up on the same match. In a podcast interview with the BBC, he claimed that he provided valuable inputs to Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam to scalp the prized wicket of India’s swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma.

Owing to the political tension between the nations, India and Pakistan face each other in only the ICC events. However, when it came to the World Cups, India has had an edge over the Men in Green. Considering India’s record, they entered the contest as favorites. But Shaheen Afridi starred with the ball and removed India’s openers early on to fashion the team’s victory.

I said get Shaheen Afridi bowling at 100mph: Ramiz Raja

“Babar Azam was here with the Chief Selector before leaving for the World Cup and I asked him what are your plans against India. I have plans and we employ Cricviz and they do the matchups. 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.

“I can tell you how to get rid of Rohit Sharma right now and Babar was intrigued. 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,” Ramiz Raja said.

Shaheen Afridi has been one of the most pivotal cogs of Pakistan’s wheel for a long now. The speedster has blown the trumpet of his repertoire by chiming in with crucial wickets for the team on most occasions. He has scalped 83, 53, and 41 wickets in Tests, ODIs, and T2oIs respectively. In the T20 World Cup 2021 as well, the left-arm pacer looked in fine form with the ball picking up seven wickets in the event.