“If people working under you aren’t happy, then that says a lot,” says Wahab Riaz ex Pakistani pacer
Since Ramiz Raja’s removal as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), multiple parties in the country’s cricket have spoken out against him. Wahab Riaz, a senior Pakistan pacesetter, has now attacked the earlier PCB management, which was overseen by Ramiz, a former Pakistan cricket team captain. Riaz, who has played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is for Pakistan, claims that past management did not listen to players’ concerns.
“We had a lot of difficulties with the previous board,” he said in an interview with reporters.
“We were told things like: ‘You have no idea how difficult it is to adjust you, nobody would keep you in a team’. That made us feel as if we’ve some loorhay langhray players who have never achieved anything in the game,” Wahab said.
Wahab said that outgoing PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja did not return his messages or phone calls. “I’m a present cricketer, I have not retired. Why didn’t he respond to me?” he questioned.
The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly threatened legal action against Ramiz Raja on Wednesday, following a disagreement between the new board committee and the old chairman following his undignified exit.
The country’s government removed Raja as PCB chairman on Thursday, appointing a 14-member committee chaired by Najam Sethi to supervise the game’s affairs for the next four months. Raja said upon his release that he was not even permitted to get his possessions from the board office after the administration suspended the constitution.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has expressed its disappointment at the comments and language of former Chairman Mr Ramiz Raja to PCB Management Committee Chairman Mr Najam Sethi on a social media platform and in a television interview,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The PCB believes that former Chairman Mr. Raja’s comments are aimed at sullying and damaging the impeccable reputation of current Chairman Mr. Sethi, adding that it reserves the right to pursue legal proceedings to damage the image and to protect and defend the credibility of its leader and the institution.”
Wahab, who hasn’t appeared for Pakistan since December 2020, believes Babar may have had concerns with the selection panel as well.
PCB has expressed its disappointment over the comments made and language used by former Chairman Mr Ramiz Raja against the Chairman of the PCB Management Committee Mr Najam Sethi
Read PCB's complete statement here: https://t.co/U2v8qug4mm pic.twitter.com/c5oWbp77eW
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 28, 2022
“During news conferences, Babar Azam would speak about bringing experience to the team, but the actual team had little experience.”
Wahab stated that the captain, chief selector, and chairman were always on the same page, as though one guy called the shots while the others covered for him.
The left-arm pacer reported that when he spoke with a PCB employee, they were pleased that Ramiz was going. “If your subordinates are unhappy, it speaks volumes,” he stated.
Wahab, taking a jab at the former head selector Muhammad Wasim, stated that he wanted to see the laptop that highlighted the players’ hidden performances. “I’m hunting for that laptop, I want that laptop,” he said with a chuckle, adding that he wishes his name was on it as well.
Pakistan previously lost the Test series 0-3 against England’s Ben Stokes and is presently competing in Tests against New Zealand.
Despite reaching the finals of the Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE and the T20 World Cup 2022, Pakistan did not win either competition.
