Ramiz Raja blamed Indian batters for Pakistan’s loss against Bangladesh. He said they have exposed the weakness of their pacers to the whole world.
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 10 wickets in the first Test of the ongoing two-match Test series. As soon as the team lost, it became a target of massive criticism and scrutiny with its fans and experts calling out their abysmal performance. The ex-chairman of Pakistan Ramiz Raja interestingly gave an Indian angle behind the team’s defeat against Najmal Hasan Shanto and Co. The Pakistan Cricket team witnessed a new low in its cricketing history as the team led by Shan Masood was defeated by the 9th-ranked Bangladesh team for the first time ever in red-ball cricket. The team last won a home Test 1,294 days ago.
Ramiz Raja on Pakistan’s loss
“Firstly, there was a mistake in team selection. You were without a spinner. Secondly, the reputation based on which we rely on our fast bowlers is finished. This debacle, a sort of a confidence crisis, started during the Asia Cup when India bashed our pacers on seaming conditions and then the secret was out to the world that the only way to counter this line-up was to attack. Their speeds have decreased, and so have their skill set,” said Ramiz on his YouTube channel.
“The Bangladesh fast bowlers seemed more penetrative while our bowlers were involved in more drama around their wickets. Since Pakistan did not have an out-and-out fast bowler on that track, even Bangladesh, with that line-up stood tall against our pacers with speeds around 125 to 135kmph,” he added.
Ramiz Raja on Shan Masood
The 62-year-old did not hold back in criticising the Pakistani captain Shan Masood for his poor selection calls particularly omitting Abrar Ahmed.
“Shan Masood is currently on a losing streak. I felt, in Australian conditions, things are tougher and it was impossible for Pakistan team to win a series there. But you are now losing in home conditions, against a team like Bangladesh, because you did not read the conditions well. Neither did the batters apply themselves and the bowlers were horrendous. Masood needs to improve his batting and needs to show that you have some knowledge of the game. He is an experienced skipper, having led in PSL and County matches. I don’t know on what basis he picked four pacers for the Rawalpindi track during the month of August,” he said.
Ramiz also told the captain to improve his batting. He said it is not like his captaincy is great enough to ensure his spot in the team, he also needs to score run from bat and stop getting out on duck.
“He needs to work on his batting. It’s not like he is a great captain and so if he keeps getting out ducks, he would still have his place in the side. Losing makes a huge dent in the team and the morale of the side. You cannot lose the series. Pakistan cricket is already under a lot of pressure. A series loss would mean tension in the dressing room, there will be a lot of criticism and questions raised,” he concluded.
The second Test will be played in Rawalpindi from August 30th, earlier the match was scheduled to be played in Karachi but the second Test was relocated from Karachi to Rawalpindi due to ongoing renovation work at the National Stadium.
