'It was a rubbish performance, they made 140 on 400-run pitch' - Ramiz Raja lashes out at Pakistan after loss against England

Former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja was not at all pleased with the kind of batting display the Pakistan team showed during the first ODI against England in Cardiff. The cricketer-turned-commentator was displeased with the way the national team performed against England’s B team. 

Just a few days before the first ODI, seven members of the England squad were tested positive with COVID which forced England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to completely change the squad. Overnight, a whole new set of players were brought in while the English squad was sent into quarantine. 

In the first ODI, England fielded five debutants while other five players had a total number of 26 caps. Raja opined that Pakistan made 140 runs on a pitch where 400 runs were gettable. He blamed faulty batting techniques as a major reason why Pakistan lost the match. 

They made 140 on a 400-run pitch: Ramiz Raja

“It was a very ordinary day for Pakistan. I would say it was a rubbish performance. They made 140 on a 400-run pitch. There was nothing on this pitch. I can agree that the new ball could have caused some problems. You can lose one or two wickets early but losing four to five wickets that early because of faulty techniques really stings. Why was the technique wrong? Because they were playing from the crease. Whether it was Imam, Babar, Rizwan, or Saud, they were all stuck in the crease whereas you have to come forward in England,” Raja said in a Youtube video. 

After this, Raja went on to point out that England fielded such an inexperienced side, yet Pakistan was unable to defeat them. He noted that it was a whole different set of players who were not part of the squad, who came and conquered.

Speaking about the Pakistan collapse, Saqib Mahmood dismissed Imam-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam in the very first over. Soon, Pakistan found itself at 26 for 4.  Raja further went on to say that the batters in England have to see the ball early and then play a shot late. In his opinion, if a batter commits themselves against the swinging ball, it will be a problem. He called the body language of Pakistan weak. Babar Azam’s team plays the 2nd ODI against England on July 10 at Lord’s.