Ramiz Raja lambasts PCB for staging first Test in Rawalpindi after rain and bad light cause frequent interruptions

International Test Cricket returned to Pakistan after a period of ten years with Sri Lanka becoming the first team to tour the terror-savaged nation since those dastardly terror attacks on their team bus in Lahore in March 2009. But what was pipped to be a historic event, the rain, and inclement weather has rendered it into a damp squib.

After the first day was prematurely called-off following 68.4 overs, a sum of a total of 18.4 overs was possible on the second day as heavy rains and bad light continued to play spoilsport in Rawalpindi.

The pattern continued on the third day with bad light playing hide and a seek. And, now former Pakistan cricketer-turned-commentator Ramiz Raza has lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board for staging the game at a place like Rawalpindi in the peak of the winter season. According to Raja, Rawalpindi- with its cold weather- was not an ideal venue for such a historic encounter and the PCB should have staged the first game in Karachi; the venue for the second Test.

“It was a tough day in Rawalpindi.  There was frustration because of the rain and bad lights. A lot of cricket could not be played because of this. The debating point is why the first match was not played in Karachi? It does not have the same weather as Rawalpindi. Test cricket was being played in Pakistan after 10 years. We could have had five days of cricket there,” Ramiz Raja said as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

Ramiz Raja also felt that the charm of the historic occasion has turned into a damp squib. He added,  “Cricket comes under pressure in Rawalpindi and Islamabad during December because it is really cold there and rain also disrupted play. Many people came in and backed Pakistan and the re-launch of Test cricket. The fun and the drama that was being created and the rhythm was broken. I think the scheduling could have been a lot better,” 

Ramiz Raja to float the idea of using pink-ball in case of bad-light interruptions

Meanwhile, Ramiz Raja revealed that he would float an idea of introducing the pink-ball in a regular Test match, in case bad light- as has been the case with the Rawalpindi Test- interrupts the proceedings in next MCC meeting, which is scheduled to take place in March 2020.

“When we have weather such as this, when it is raining and the lights come on, can we not continue the action by switching to a pink ball? The pink ball is used for night cricket and when the conditions are like this then the pink ball can pave the way,” said Raja.

“Test cricket is failing the stress Test and is in trouble. If people come in with big expectations and if they have to go back because of bad lights then I think this is an idea that can be worked on. Because I am a member of the MCC cricket committee, I will definitely try to float this idea in the meeting that will take place in March.” Raja said on his Youtube channel as quotes by Cricket Pakistan.

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