‘He shamelessly accepted Indian supremacy’ – Sarfraz Nawaz not in favour of Ramiz Raja becoming PCB chief, writes to PM Imran Khan

Pakistan cricket might welcome a new era soon with current PCB chairman Ehsan Mani’s contract expiring on August 25. While Mani is reportedly determined to extend his tenure, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has thrown his hat to take the position at helm. With Raja being a veteran of 57 Tests and 197 ODIs, he has played a considerable amount of international cricket.

Moreover, he has been associated with the game even after retirement, donning the commentator’s hat. Hence, many have been backing him to become PCB’s chief. However, former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz is of a different opinion. Nawaz accused the cricketer-turned-commentator of speaking in the favour of arch-rivals India while showing Pakistan cricket in bad light. The former pacer even wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan in this regard, urging not to appoint Raja.

Notably, Imran Khan will nominate two names (in this case likely to be Mani and Raja) to the PCB’s board of governors, who will then elect the chairman. While writing against Raja, Nawaz advised Khan to nominate his former teammates Zaheer Abbas or Majid Khan as the next chairman of PCB.

Sarfraz Nawaz strongly bashes Ramiz Raja

“Reports are circulating in the media that with your approval, it has been decided to replace Ehsan Mani with Ramiz Raja as the chairman PCB. In this regard, there is no doubt that as Patron in Chief of the PCB, you have a right to appoint anyone as the Chairman PCB,” Sarfaraz wrote in the letter as reported by Dawn.

“If the news about your approval for the appointment of Ramiz Raja as next chairman PCB is true, who blatantly and shamelessly advised Pakistan to become shameless by accepting the Indian supremacy and domination in the ICC [vehemently opposed by many renowned Pakistanis] and so much so that he [Ramiz] said that we should leave aside Pakistan in surrendering before the Indian hegemonist plan to rule the cricketing world through monopoly in the ICC,” he added.

Meanwhile, consistency has been a cause of concern for Pakistan cricket in recent teams. The management and officials have also come under the scanner for the same. Hence, the PCB governors and Imran Khan have an important decision to take considering the high-voltage T20 World Cup 2021 being less than a couple of months away.