Ramiz Raja explains unceremonious departures of Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis from PCB

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja explained the sudden exits of Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis from the management during his tenure. In December, the apex cricket board underwent a series of changes with an overhaul taking place in the management.

Following the underwhelming outings in the Asia Cup 2022, the T20 World Cup 2022, and the humiliating whitewash (3-0) to England in the Test series at home, the PCB decided to sack Ramiz from the role. What followed was the former World Cup winner going ballistic, over the way he was shown the exit door and criticized the new board headed by Najam Sethi. However, in an interview with Samaa TV, he was asked about the abrupt exits of Misbah and Waqar during his tenure, to which Ramiz described it as his ‘right’ as the chairman. 

“They received their full payments for two years. They were given full respect. As a chairman, it was my right to dismiss them. Even now, they are talking about removing Saqlain Mushtaq and replacing him with Mickey Arthur. I made contracts in such a way that I didn't want the board to be left with a coaching setup for three years,” Ramiz was quoted as saying by HT.

I've played with Waqar, I talked to him in detail: Ramiz Raja

Ramiz, however, mentioned that the duo would have left in any case due to their respective yearly contracts. He also added that he realized certain changes were required while he was commentating during the Pakistan games. 

"We had yearly contracts. They (Misbah and Waqar) would've left in January/February anyway. We brought a new management. It wasn't easy for me. I've played with Waqar, I talked to him in detail. The CEO talked to Misbah,” said the former PCB chief.

“It obviously didn't look good that the change took place with a week or 10 days before the T20 World Cup. But I had an idea that we could only go to a certain extent with them. When I used to do commentary, I realised that a change was necessary,” he added.

He served as the 35th chairman of the board between September 2021 and December 2022 prior to Sethi taking over the role.