Cricket

Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad announcement delay has raised concerns among cricket enthusiasts, with former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja expressing his dissatisfaction. Pakistan remains the only team yet to reveal its lineup for the highly anticipated tournament, scheduled for June.Raja criticized the management's indecisiveness, stating that every player seems to be on trial as they struggle to assess their potential. He emphasized the need for a swift squad announcement, as the team cannot afford to experiment indefinitely.The Pakistani pacers have faced challenges in finding rhythm throughout their recent tour of Ireland. Shaheen Shah Afridi, despite taking wickets, has been expensive, while Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah have struggled to make an impact. Hasan Ali's performance in the third T20I was particularly disappointing, conceding 42 runs in just three overs.Raja also questioned the body language of some bowlers, particularly Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir. He expressed concerns about the role of Abbas Afridi, who has conceded 43 runs in two matches.Despite the bowling woes, Pakistan managed to avoid a series defeat in Ireland, winning the third T20I by six wickets. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played key roles with the bat, scoring 75 and 56 runs respectively.Raja praised Azam's strike rate but questioned the inclusion of Saim Ayub, who has failed to provide a solid start for the team. He suggested that Ayub's confidence could be damaged if he continues to struggle.With the T20 World Cup approaching, Pakistan faces pressure to finalize its squad and address its bowling concerns. The management must make decisive decisions to ensure the team's competitiveness in the tournament.

Former Pakistan cricket star Ramiz Raja has expressed his dissatisfaction with the coverage of the ongoing T20I series between Pakistan and Ireland. Raja criticized the lack of DRS and replays, which he believes is not befitting of a match featuring Pakistan."One thing which I don't like at all is the coverage of this match. It feels like a club game is being telecast. Only two cameras are there. There's no DRS, no replays, you don't get an idea of the boundary rope, you can't enjoy a good shot being played or good balls being bowled. This is extremely unfair to the Pakistan cricket product," Raja said on YouTube.Raja also questioned why the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not address the issue. "Someone should have figured it out earlier. If the coverage was going to be like this, whichever broadcasting company it was, should have taken the rights from Cricket Ireland. I know they have the rights, but it should have been taken away and the coverage should have been made much better for this series because this marks the beginning of our road to the World Cup."Raja compared the coverage of the Pakistan-Ireland series to the broadcast quality of matches featuring African teams. "We are not an African country that the coverage for our games can be this poor. This series is not telecast in England. It's not available on Sky. Primarily because it is being covered like this. This is unfair to Pakistan," he said.Raja's comments highlight the importance of high-quality coverage for international cricket matches. The lack of DRS and replays can significantly impact the viewing experience and make it difficult for fans to fully appreciate the action on the field. The PCB should take Raja's concerns seriously and work to ensure that future matches are covered in a manner that befits the stature of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan's former cricket board chairman, Ramiz Raja, has expressed his disappointment with the performance of the team's bowlers in the second T20I against Ireland. Despite Pakistan's comprehensive victory, Raja criticized the bowlers for conceding 162 runs in the first innings.Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, and Abbas Afridi combined to give away runs at a hefty economy rate, with Shaheen and Amir proving particularly costly. Shaheen conceded 49 runs in his four-over spell, while Amir gave away 44 runs.Raja believes that Pakistan's bowlers have been struggling since last year's World Cup in India. He pointed out that the team's success has been built on the strength of its pacers, but they have been inconsistent in recent times."Pakistan's top bowlers giving away so many runs against Ireland, then it will become hard for the team in future," Raja said. "Pakistan's forte, and success are based on the bowlers, especially pacers, they have been struggling since last year's World Cup in India. Two balls are good and then three deliveries are bad, this makes the situation tough."Pakistan's decision to bowl first backfired as Ireland posted a competitive total of 193/7. Lorcan Tucker led the charge with 51 runs, while Harry Tector and Curtis Campher provided valuable support.In reply, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman laid the foundation for Pakistan's chase with half-centuries. Azam Khan then sealed the victory with three consecutive sixes.The series is now level at 1-1, with the third and deciding match scheduled for Tuesday at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin.

Pakistan's recent loss to Ireland in the first T20I of their three-match series has raised concerns about the team's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ramiz Raja, expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, particularly their drop to seventh position in the ICC T20 Rankings.Raja highlighted the team's weakened body language and questioned the frequent changes in captaincy and squad composition. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that "you can't defend losing against Ireland."Raja also raised concerns about Pakistan's batting lineup, pointing out the inconsistencies and lack of stability in the middle order. He questioned the team's ability to perform at the highest level, especially with the T20 World Cup looming."How will Pakistan win the World Cup?" Raja pondered, expressing doubts about the team's prospects given their current form. "You know the capability of the team and you want them to play like India, Australia or you want to produce a player like Travis Head."Raja's comments shed light on Pakistan's struggles, both in batting and bowling departments. Despite posting a competitive total of 182/6, Pakistan's bowlers failed to defend it, with issues like full tosses and overpitched deliveries plaguing their performance.Pakistan's loss to Ireland has exposed the team's weaknesses and raised questions about their ability to compete at the highest level. With the T20 World Cup just months away, the team will need to address these issues quickly if they want to be competitive in the tournament.

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has strongly criticized the team management's decision to experiment with the squad ahead of the T20 World Cup. Pakistan's recent 4-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth T20I has raised concerns about the team's preparation for the upcoming global tournament.Raja questioned the logic behind experimenting with the team so close to the World Cup. He argued that such experiments could lead to a loss of confidence and disrupt the team's rhythm. "Where is it written that when you are trying to test your bench strength it is necessary to lose?" Raja asked. "I can't understand what you are trying to do."Raja also criticized the team's captaincy changes and batting order adjustments, which he believes have destabilized the team. He pointed out that Pakistan's white-ball team was performing well before these changes were made.The former cricketer expressed concern about the number of people involved in the team's decision-making process. "Too many cooks in the dugout and a lot of people are trying to be experts," Raja said. "There is massive confusion."Raja emphasized the importance of building a competitive team and focusing on winning. He warned that if Pakistan continues to experiment and lose matches, it will negatively impact their mindset going into the World Cup."You need to make a combination that makes you competitive," Raja said. "You can't lose matches by experimenting based on talent. You can experiment all you want but you can't lose matches against this New Zealand team."Pakistan will face England in a four-match T20I series after the conclusion of the New Zealand series. Raja believes that if Pakistan loses that series as well, it will be a major setback for their World Cup preparations."If you lose the England series, in what frame of mind will you go in New York to defeat India?" Raja asked. "Your body of work is defeat. Pakistan needs to focus on victory."