Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has addressed the criticism stemming from his recent interview with Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood. The interview, conducted with Zainab Abbas after the Pakistan vs England Test series, sparked controversy due to Raja’s questioning of Masood’s leadership during a tough series in which the team initially faced six consecutive losses.
Despite this rough start, the Pakistani team made a remarkable comeback, achieving a series victory at home for the first time in over 1,300 days, led by spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali.
During the interview, Raja’s inquiry about the team’s earlier struggles specifically, “How did you achieve this, six losses in a row?”—was perceived by many, including former player Mohammad Amir, as inappropriate, especially given the context of celebration.
Critics on social media labeled Raja’s approach as disrespectful, prompting a significant backlash.
In response, Raja took to his official YouTube channel to clarify his intentions. He emphasized that his goal was never to undermine Masood or diminish the team’s achievements.
“I asked a couple of questions, and my aim was not to belittle anyone or cast a negative light on Pakistan’s victory,” he stated, highlighting the importance of success for the cricketing community.
Raja expressed that victories lead to greater opportunities within the sport, saying, “The more Pakistan wins, the more opportunities open up for all of us in the cricketing ecosystem.”
He also dismissed the impact of social media on his professional life, asserting, “If I lived my life based on social media narratives, I wouldn’t be in this field.”
He concluded by criticizing the “uninformed opinions” of those who position themselves as cricket experts without experience, reinforcing that he would never question Masood’s captaincy following a series win.
