It seems like former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja despite having been sacked from the post, hasn’t truly left it and continues to target BCCI and Indian cricket. Ramiz, who doesn’t miss a chance to have a go at the Indian cricket board, has launched a fresh attack saying that it is influenced by the country’s ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) mindset, which is hampering Pakistan cricket.
Speaking at a Government College University event in Lahore, Ramiz said, “Unfortunately, what’s happening with India is that there is this BJP mindset over there. The properties that I had announced, be it the PJL [Pakistan Junior League] or the Pakistan Women’s League, were done so that we could have our own money-making assets that would fund the Pakistan Cricket Board, which would take us away from the ICC’s funding, which is crucial right now.”
Ramiz further mentioned that with India having the resources and money to contribute to the ICC the most, it almost marginalises countries like Pakistan, who are slowly and gradually coming through the ranks. Ramiz said that he also asked England and Australia to take more active roles in leadership at the ICC and not let the Council succumb to the pressure of money and power.
The main argument between the two boards began when BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that India won’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and that the continental tournament will take place at a neutral venue. Since then, PCB and especially Ramiz threatened to pull back Pakistan from the World Cup 2023 scheduled to take place in India.
Speaking on the matter for the umpteenth time, Ramiz said, “I made my position clear on this. If the ACC has nominated us to hold an Asian tournament and if India says one fine day that we won’t go to Pakistan and the Asia Cup will also be taken from here, then all I said was that we have options too.”
Ramiz was recently sacked after Pakistan’s loss to England in the Test series 3-0 as not only the administration, the selection committee was changed too.
