'Team Ka Satyanash Kar Diya Hai': Ex-PCB Chief Slams Pakistan Team Ahead Of T20 World Cup 2024
Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has harshly criticised the team management following Pakistan's 2-0 T20I series defeat against England just before the T20 World Cup. At Kennington Oval, England dominated Pakistan, successfully chasing down 158 runs with more than four overs to spare in the fourth T20I.?
The defeat highlighted Pakistan's lack of firepower in the middle order and the underperformance of their pacers while defending their target. Ramiz expressed his concerns over the continued experimentation in Pakistan's white-ball setup, blaming these decisions for the team's poor performance.
"They should stop experimenting with the team. Go into a game with a proper combination. You need to get out of the phobia of strike rate because you don't have that kind of players. Aapne is team ka satyanash kar diya hai (You have completely made a cock-up of this team)," Ramiz said on his YouTube channel.
One of the significant changes has been the introduction of Saim Ayub in the opening slot, breaking up the record-breaking duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. This decision, made during Mohammad Hafeez's short-lived stint as Pakistan's director of cricket, has not paid off as expected.
Ayub's performance as an opener has been disappointing, and Pakistan's middle order has also struggled in critical situations. Ramiz was vocal about the impact of these changes. "You have ruined the team by breaking the opening pair (of Babar and Rizwan). The role of the middle order is not defined. You have put all-rounders in the middle and two wicket-keepers are playing. You are changing the fast bowlers. Your spinners don't spin the ball and don't have the confidence. You put Imad Wasim out of the playing XI. There is no sideways movement and you have completely dismantled the team just before the T20 World Cup," he added.
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Although Ayub showed potential with a quick-paced knock of 45(29) in the first T20I against New Zealand, his overall performance has been underwhelming. In four matches against the Blackcaps, the 21-year-old scored just 52 runs at an average of 14.25.
Previously, Babar and Rizwan formed one of the most prolific opening pairs in T20I cricket for Pakistan. Their third-century partnership in the last edition of the Men's T20I World Cup in 2022 is a testament to their success.
Pakistan, placed in Group A alongside arch-rival India, Canada, USA, and Ireland, will start their T20 World Cup campaign against the co-hosts USA on Thursday at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas.
(With inputs from ANI)
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