'Embarassing' Pakistan need wholesale revamp: Rameez Raja

Dhaka, May 3 (IANS) Former Pakistan batsman and current commentator Rameez Raja has labelled the country's slide to their lowest-ever One-Day International (ODI) rankings as an "embarrassment" and insisted that the country needs a revamp of its cricket structure.

Pakistan dropped to ninth in the rankings following a 0-3 series whitewash by Bangladesh and are at risk of missing the next Champions Trophy, to be held in England in 2017, if they fail to lift themselves back into the top eight before the September 30 qualification deadline.

"It is a testament to how over the years the team and the system have refused to evolve and produce worthwhile talent to arrest the slide," Raja told cricket.com.au on Sunday.

"It is an embarrassing and alarming situation to see Pakistan getting dropped to number nine in the ODI rankings. I can't imagine Pakistan missing the next ICC Champions Trophy. It will be a massive low."

Pakistan are yet to win an ODI series in nearly 16 months.

Raja said wholesale changes were needed in the country to bring back the past glory for the 1992 World champions.

"It is a mix of twisted domestic structure, the academy's poor performance and the non-existence of school cricket that Pakistan has slid from number two to nine in the rankings in the space of a decade," he said.

"Pakistan is still playing 1980s and 1990s style of one-day cricket with wickets in hand at the expense of a competitive batting run rate.

Pakistan players, coaches and management require a change in the strategy where they follow a fearless approach towards the game. They also need to be aggressive in the selection matters," he opined.