Former captain Ramiz Raja came up with a scathing assessment of Pakistan’s fast-bowling reputation after the senior men’s team suffered a shocking loss to Bangladesh at home. Pakistan were handed a 10-wicket defeat by Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in the first of a two-Test series on Sunday, August 25. It was Pakistan’s loss in a Test match to Bangladesh and it came after Pakistan went into the series opener with an all-pace line-up on a pitch that had a healthy dose of green tinge.
Pakistan made 448 in the first innings after they were sent into bat, thanks to daddy hundreds from Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel. However, their bowlers struggled, allowing Bangladesh to post a mammoth total of 565. Shaheen Afridi (two), Naseem Shah (three), Khurram Shahzad (two) and Mohammad Ali (two) picked up nine wickets between them, but conceded 351 runs between them, struggling to keep the runs down. Agha Salman, who was used as a part-time spinner, gave away 136 runs without picking a wicket.
Speaking on his YouTube show, Ramiz Raja lashed out at the pace-bowling attack, saying it has crumbled under pressure, more often than not. The former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman also said that India exposed the fast-bowling attack’s weakness in an Asia Cup match in 2023.
“The fast bowling reputation has finished. The debacle started during the Asia Cup. The confidence crisis in this bowling lineup, especially in fast bowling, started from the match against India. Our fast bowlers were thrashed in seaming conditions. Then the entire world figured out that if they are attacked, this bowling attack is not of the same standard as its reputation,” Raja said.
“Everyone’s speed has gone down and the skill level is not there. The Bangladesh fast bowlers looked more penetrative. Our bowlers are mostly looking to enjoy or create drama after picking up a wicket rather than create their reputation through performance,” Raja added.
