Former player fears Ramiz Raja will kill Pakistan cricket
- James Richardson
- 9 May 2022
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja has once again drawn criticism from a former player for his direction of the country's national sport and full-time obsession.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has slammed the policy-making of board chairman Ramiz Raja.
Raja's position has been placed in doubt by the removal of former Pakistan skipper Imrah Khan from the office of Prime Minister.
The head of the Pakistan Cricket Board is appointed under the patronage of the country's Prime Minister and it seems Raja is making enemies with some of his pet projects.
'Ramiz Raja will kill Pakistan cricket'
Tanvir has been particularly critical of Raja's drive to organise more junior T20 tournaments when the quick feels young players need exposure to longer formats of the game.
Raja has plans to stage an under-19 version of the franchise T20 tournament, the Pakistan Super League.
Tanvir spoke out against the PCB Chairman in a video released on his Youtube channel.
"Instead of holding a Junior PSL, chairman should have focused on organising two-day or three-day tournaments. He is going to destroy Pakistan cricket with such decisions," said Tanvir.
"The youngsters will think that they don't need to play long form cricket and instead focus on hitting sixes. This mentality will not affect under-19 cricket but also under-13 cricket and their families due to the money involved," he added.
"People all over the world are saying that T20 cricket has destroyed Test cricket but our chairman is trying to organise Junior PSL."
Drop-in pitch proposal slammed
Tanvir also slammed a proposal by Raja to use drop-in pitches in Pakistan, which he believes is just a gimmick.
"Every new chairman comes with a new logic which doesn't help Pakistan cricket and the same goes with him [Ramiz Raja]. Instead of reviving departmental cricket, you brought up the idea of drop-in pitches which didn't work out," Tanvir concluded.
Raja was appointed as the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board in September 2021 after he was elected unanimously and unopposed for a three-year term.
Among his first actions as chairman was the removal of Chief Executive Officer Wasim Khan, whom he has since replaced with Faisal Husnain.
High-profile figures in Pakistan cricket have been critical of various aspects of Raja's leadership in recent months.
Among them are former national team coaches and playing heroes Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram.
