"Please take a look at how India backs its players" - Ramiz Raja slams Pakistan's 'hotchpotch' system after 2024 T20 World Cup debacle
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja slammed the system that lacks long-term vision and clarity after their disastrous 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. The Men in Green continued their horrific run by getting eliminated at the group stage.
Pakistan suffered an embarrassing defeat to minnows USA in their tournament opener before losing from a winnable position against arch-rivals India to be ousted before the Super Eights.
Meanwhile, Team India went on a rampaging run to win their second T20 World Cup title without losing a match.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Raja lambasted Pakistan's system by pointing to how India backs players even if they have a poor outing occasionally.
"See, I understand pressure is different in T20 cricket. It is a tough format, no doubt. Please take a look at how India backs its players. Axar got smacked in the final, but that does not make him a bad bowler overnight. But with Pakistan, the problem is that we are always up and down. We are unable to read the game. Also, as far as leadership is concerned, it is the system that produces a leader, not some magic wand. In Pakistan, the system is a hotchpotch," said Raja (via TimesNow).
The dismal 2024 T20 World Cup showing added to Pakistan's torrid performances over the past year. They were knocked out before the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, resulting in Babar Azam stepping down from captaincy across formats.
However, after Shaheen Afridi was appointed the T20I skipper, Pakistan returned to Babar in the white-ball formats following a lone series against New Zealand.
"By the time you go from 1st gear to fourth gear, the regime changes and we are back to square one" - Ramiz Raja
Ramiz Raja continued slamming the system by highlighting how the lack of continuity has been the biggest issue in Pakistan cricket.
Apart from the captaincy switches, the side has undergone wholesome changes in the board members and team management over the past several months.
"Whenever a new administration comes in, they try to impose their new system. So, every time, it is a fresh start. By the time you go from 1st gear to fourth gear, the regime changes and we are back to square one. For greatness, there is a need for system and continuity," Raja said.
He concluded:
"A lot of improvements are needed in Pakistan. Neither do we have short-term goals, and the question of long-term does not arise because no one knows what will happen in a year because there is so much turbulence in cricket."
Pakistan's next assignment is a two-Test series at home against Bangladesh, starting at Rawalpindi on August 21.
It will be Shan Masood's second series as their Test captain with his first ending in a 0-3 defeat in Australia earlier this year.