The Pakistan cricket team’s disappointing performance in the ICC World Cup has been widely criticized. After being knocked out early in the ODI World Cup 2023, they were eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, with losses to USA and India. The close defeat to India was particularly disheartening for fans as Pakistan failed to capitalize on a commanding position.
Former Pakistan cricket team captain and ex-Pakistan Cricket Board chief, Ramiz Raja, expressed his frustration at the team’s poor showing. He criticized the decision to bring back retired players for the T20 World Cup instead of focusing on nurturing young talent. Raja highlighted the importance of allowing leadership to flourish in the team, stating that decisions should be made based on merit and discipline rather than personal agendas.
Raja pointed out that previous attempts to gather all-star teams for major tournaments had not yielded positive results, citing the example of the 2003 World Cup. He emphasized the need for a strong captain and a clear hierarchy within the team to succeed in international competitions. Raja warned against using players as sacrificial lambs to save positions within the team, stating that this approach was detrimental to the development of cricket in Pakistan.
The former captain also stressed on giving more opportunities to young cricketers who have shown potential in domestic cricket tournaments. According to him, it is essential to focus on building a strong bench that can replace injured or injured players at any given time.
In conclusion, Ramiz Raja has criticized Pakistan’s poor performance in international cricket tournaments and urged them to focus on nurturing young talent rather than bringing back retired players. He also emphasized