Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ramiz Raja, lashed out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over shifting the Asia Cup 2023 out of Pakistan. Earlier, Jay Shah, the honourary secretary of the Indian board, said that India wouldn’t be going to Pakistan and the tournament needs to be shifted to a neutral venue.
Raja said that during his stint with the PCB, he tried to bring in leadership, especially after New Zealand and England pulled out of their tours back in 2021.
“One positive from my stint as a chairman was that I provided leadership. If you remember New Zealand had left then we told them that what you did was unfair. The England refused to come, we spoke with them, following which they played 7 T20Is instead of 5, two extra.
“The ECB staffs visited Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, they came to my office and apologised. Similarly, Australia also visited,” Raja was quoted as saying to Dunya News.
“What is leadership? When Asian Cricket Council has asked Pakistan to host a tournament and then India say they won’t travel to Pakistan and shift the tournament to a neutral venue, what should be the response?” he stated.
“Kya hum sab servant rahenge India k, kyunki woh ek world power hain apne hisab se. Kya hum har cheez unki mante jayenge?” (Are we servant of India just because they are a world power in cricket? Should we listen to everything they say?)” Raja added.
Recently, Najam Seth replaced Raja as the PCB chairman. Raja served as the PCB chairman from September 2021 to December 2022. Apart from Raja, chief selector Mohammad Wasim was also sacked. Shahid Afridi is currently the interim chief selector of the national men’s team.
