In a surprising turn of events, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has attributed the poor quality of home pitches during his tenure to the decisions made by then-captain Babar Azam. Raja’s comments came during a BBC Test Match Special (TMS) broadcast while discussing the ongoing second Test between Pakistan and England in Multan.
Historically, Raja had defended the state of the pitches, which faced significant criticism for being too flat and lifeless, particularly during the 2022 series against Australia. Now, however, he has shifted the focus to Babar’s influence on pitch-related decisions, stating, “I wasn’t really bossing the pitch preparation. I was only listening to Babar.” He explained that Babar played a crucial role in devising the pitch strategy against Australia, implying that the captain had a greater say in the matter than he did.
Raja emphasized the unpredictability of pitches, stating, “It becomes a guessing game when you do not know the nature of a pitch. You can’t really plan for an assault if the pitch is not going to behave properly or to your liking.” He suggested that this lack of clarity was a major factor in Pakistan’s struggles at home, as the pitches did not align with the talents selected to perform.
Previously, during the first Test against Australia in Rawalpindi, which ended in a high-scoring draw with only 14 wickets falling, Raja had defended the pitch conditions, claiming they were strategically designed to protect Pakistan’s limited resources against Australia’s formidable bowling attack. Following the match, Raja acknowledged that a drawn Test “is never a good advertisement for Test cricket” but insisted that preparing a fast or bouncy pitch would have favored the visiting team.
In addition to discussing pitch issues, Raja also evaluated Babar’s captaincy. While he praised Babar’s leadership in white-ball formats, he expressed frustration with his Test captaincy, particularly regarding field placements and game management. Raja noted, “Partly, I rated him… I was frustrated at times with how he set the field.” Despite these criticisms, he acknowledged Babar’s ability to maintain composure in the dressing room, especially during challenging times.
Raja further highlighted the importance of players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi in promoting Pakistan cricket, stating, “They are the advertisements.” He expressed that their unique playing styles and performances are vital for attracting fans and sponsors, suggesting that without these star players, the appeal of Pakistan cricket would diminish significantly.
In this evolving narrative around Pakistan’s cricketing strategies, Ramiz Raja’s comments underscore the complexities of leadership, pitch preparation, and the role of star players in the sport’s branding.
Ramiz Raja Shifts Blame for Pakistan’s Home Pitches to Babar Azam
In a surprising turn of events, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has attributed the poor quality of home pitches during his tenure to the decisions made by then-captain Babar Azam. Raja’s comments came during a BBC Test Match Special (TMS) broadcast while discussing the ongoing second Test between Pakistan and England in Multan.
Historically, Raja had defended the state of the pitches, which faced significant criticism for being too flat and lifeless, particularly during the 2022 series against Australia. Now, however, he has shifted the focus to Babar’s influence on pitch-related decisions, stating, “I wasn’t really bossing the pitch preparation. I was only listening to Babar.” He explained that Babar played a crucial role in devising the pitch strategy against Australia, implying that the captain had a greater say in the matter than he did.
Raja emphasized the unpredictability of pitches, stating, “It becomes a guessing game when you do not know the nature of a pitch. You can’t really plan for an assault if the pitch is not going to behave properly or to your liking.” He suggested that this lack of clarity was a major factor in Pakistan’s struggles at home, as the pitches did not align with the talents selected to perform.
Previously, during the first Test against Australia in Rawalpindi, which ended in a high-scoring draw with only 14 wickets falling, Raja had defended the pitch conditions, claiming they were strategically designed to protect Pakistan’s limited resources against Australia’s formidable bowling attack. Following the match, Raja acknowledged that a drawn Test “is never a good advertisement for Test cricket” but insisted that preparing a fast or bouncy pitch would have favored the visiting team.
In addition to discussing pitch issues, Raja also evaluated Babar’s captaincy. While he praised Babar’s leadership in white-ball formats, he expressed frustration with his Test captaincy, particularly regarding field placements and game management. Raja noted, “Partly, I rated him… I was frustrated at times with how he set the field.” Despite these criticisms, he acknowledged Babar’s ability to maintain composure in the dressing room, especially during challenging times.
Raja further highlighted the importance of players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi in promoting Pakistan cricket, stating, “They are the advertisements.” He expressed that their unique playing styles and performances are vital for attracting fans and sponsors, suggesting that without these star players, the appeal of Pakistan cricket would diminish significantly.
In this evolving narrative around Pakistan’s cricketing strategies, Ramiz Raja’s comments underscore the complexities of leadership, pitch preparation, and the role of star players in the sport’s branding.
