‘He's back to where he belongs’- Wasim Akram breaks silence on Ramiz Raja’s unceremonious departure from PCB

Former Pakistan skipper and legendary pacer, Wasim Akram, made a rather bold statement on his 1992 World Cup-winning teammate, Ramiz Raja. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) underwent an overhaul within the management as the likes of the former PCB chief were shown the exit doors in December.

Following his sacking, Akram, who was asked about his former teammate’s tenure in the apex cricket board, did not hold back on his words and made a bold statement. The pace great spoke at length in an interview with Cricket Pakistan about the new board and the removal of Ramiz.

"There was a change in the Pakistani board. You talked about Najam Sethi; Ramiz Raja was removed. How would you rate Ramiz Raja as PCB chairman?” asked the reporter. 

“Who? Look, I don't want to discuss this. Vo (Ramiz Raja) 6 din ke liye aaya tha, ab vo vaapis aa gaya hai apni jagah pe. (He came here for six days, now he's back to where he belongs),” Akram was quoted as saying by theHindustan Times. 

It's no concept that only cricketers should be PCB chairman: Wasim Akram

After showing the exit doors to Ramiz, the apex board appointed a 14-member committee led by Najam Sethi. Wasim further opined that the newly appointed chairman is built for the role and added that it is not necessary that ‘cricketers should be PCB chairman’.

"Najam Sethi has experience, and it's no concept that only cricketers should be PCB chairman. You need to be a good administrator, and you also need to be a good communicator and build a good reputation with other boards. Najam Sethi sahab is the best in that. People can disagree for all I care. It's my opinion," he added.

Following the shift in management, Najam Sethi also confirmed the return of Mickey Arthur as Pakistan's head coach while speaking to the media on Monday, January 23. Sethi also appointed former batter Haroon Rasheed as the chief of the national selection committee, who will replace Shahid Afridi who held the post on an interim basis earlier.