On Tuesday, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja expressed that Pakistan needs “herculean” efforts to overcome its current challenges following a disappointing series against Bangladesh.
Raja began his video message by congratulating Bangladesh for their convincing 2-0 series win over Pakistan. He stated, “Bangladesh excelled in every aspect and were clearly ahead of Pakistan.”
He then criticized the Pakistan team, saying, “I want to thank Pakistan for this record defeat. I’m uncertain how Pakistan cricket will recover. Given the current situation and with England arriving soon for a three-match Test series, only a miracle could help us avoid further disaster.”
Raja noted that many Pakistan fans are disillusioned, and discussions are taking place in a somber context. “Shan Masood, as the leader, needs to provide answers. It’s his job to win matches, but he has made several errors,” he said. Raja acknowledged that while Masood is still the captain and the bowling attack is inexperienced, he had chosen this young attack knowing the team’s fitness issues.
He added, “If the captain had been scoring runs, it might have alleviated some of the problems. However, the team’s performance against Bangladesh, who defeated them in such a comprehensive manner for the first time, has led to significant disappointment.”
Raja questioned whether the current bowling attack could win against England and described it as “one-dimensional,” suited more for first-class cricket. He expressed concern about the lack of viewer interest in Pakistan’s red-ball cricket when world-class cricket is readily available.
He lamented the lack of exciting talent in the team, noting Babar Azam’s poor form and the general decline in the team’s appeal. Raja also pointed out Saud Shakeel’s struggles against fast bowlers, despite his century in the series against Bangladesh. “Such performances count for little in a losing series,” he added.
Acknowledging the efforts of wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, Raja said, “Rizwan continues to resist with the bat, but how long can he fight alone? Victorious players attract fans, and currently, there’s little to commend about Pakistan cricket.”
Raja also criticized the team’s performance on the final day of the Test, noting that Bangladesh’s victory by six wickets was achieved despite challenging conditions. He expressed frustration over the lack of effective bowlers with high-arm action in the team.
Raja concluded with a call for a strategic overhaul. “We need to revamp our strategy urgently. While changing the captain might not be feasible right now, we must select players with the right technique. Not all first-class performers will succeed at the international level,” he said. “Pakistan cannot afford to waste time; we need to assess whether young players can adapt to these conditions and address the issues with our batting concentration and middle-order performance.”
