'The value of this loss on Richter scale will be 15' - Ramiz Raja lashes out at Pakistan after series-loss against England

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has expressed his displeasure of watching the Pakistan team lost the ODI series against England. On Sunday, England won the second ODI against the visiting Pakistan team at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London by 52 runs. By the virtue of this win, England also claimed the series 2-0 after winning the first ODI by nine wickets in Cardiff. 

Raja described Pakistan’s loss as a shock. The fact which has infuriated the cricketer-turned commentator is that the England team is not the first-choice team. Just days ahead of the series, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) faced a COVID crisis which led them to quarantine the entire squad which was announced for the series. 

Ben Stokes was announced as the captain of an alternate squad which was announced just a couple of days from the start of the series. “If you map this series defeat on the Richter scale, the value of shock will clock fifteen. It’s a massive blow and I don’t understand how one can defend it. It’s England’s No.2 team, in terms of talent,” Ramiz Raja said in his latest Youtube video. 

If the alarm bells don’t ring now, I don’t know when they will: Ramiz Raja

The moment when England had announced a reserve squad with players, half of whom were yet to make their international debuts, Pakistan seemed the firm favorites. Raja called the England squad, ‘a glorified county team’ which defeated Pakistan. Babar Azam and his team now stand a chance to be whitewashed by this inexperienced England team. 

“The performance isn’t defendable. If the alarm bells don’t ring now, I don’t know when they will. It’s a World Cup year, though it’s a T20 World Cup, and such headlines are unbearable for Pakistan fans,” he added. Raja then addressed that the fans were quite sad at Lord’s and that they are losing their love and strength due to continuous disappointing performances. He pointed out that the attendance of fans in overseas countries has also decreased due to expectations dying. 

Pakistan was well on course during the second ODI. They had England at 160 for 7, but yet the hosts managed to end up with a score of 247 runs. Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan were dismissed for scores of 19, 1, 10 and 5, which once again left Pakistan in a desperate situation. Eventually, they were bowled out for 195 runs.