After meeting with the Prime Minister Imran Khan, Ramiz Raja has officially been declared the new chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the next three years.
The tenure of the sitting chairman Mr. Ehsan Mani is ending on 18th September, after which the charge of the cricket board will be handed over to Mr. Ehsan Mani.
The former Test captain-turned commentator Rameez Raja had emerged as the front runner for the top slot of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the rumors surrounding his appointment as the new chairman had been surfacing for days.
Ramiz Raja as PCB Chairman
is a VERY GOOD SELECTION 👏👏
Experienced. Diplomatic. World Known.
Above all. A CWC Winning Cricketer.
All Boxes ✅✅✅
— Aqeel (@i4qeel) August 23, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also patron-in-chief of the Board, has decided against giving Mani extension after his term ends this month. “In the next few days, the PM will send two names to the PCB’s Governing Board for the chairman’s election and the members will elect one of them,” a PCB source was quoted as saying on Saturday.
Read more: Ramiz Raja slams news anchors and opposition for criticising PM Khan for price hike
Earlier, Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairperson Najam Sethi had voiced his opinion that the current PCB chairperson Ehsan Mani and CEO Wasim Khan should be removed from their posts.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan should take some time and see what was happening with Pakistan cricket,” Sethi had said in an interview in June, 2021. “People will forget the political failure of the Prime Minister, but will not forget the injustice done to cricket. The media will keep reminding him,” he had warned.
According to the former PCB chairperson, domestic cricket had been ruined because of wrong decisions by the PCB management. “It is not appropriate to shut down anything at once without a better alternative. They have shut down departmental and regional cricket and failed to provide an alternative. Cricket has been devastated at every level now,” he commented.
Only Thing I Like About Ramiz Raja is He Highlights and Appreciates the Domestic Performers in his Videos. I Hope He will Arrange Drop in Pitches in Pakistan and More A Tours for Emerging Players.
— 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗭𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗿 🇵🇰🇵🇸 (@iam_JZK) August 23, 2021
Reactions
Ever since the news broke out, people have been commenting both for and against Ramiz Raja.
Some pointed out the experience he has had in the field would make him an appropriate chairman while others commented on his appreciation for domestic cricket that may help Pakistan to produce more local talent in the coming years.
And his drop in pitches theory will do the same.
Anyone who cares about Pakistan Cricket, should pray with all their heart and soul that Pakistan Cricket is saved from Ramiz Raja. https://t.co/LCkG0o7voz
— Zainub Razvi (@zainubrazvi) August 21, 2021
On the other hand, some of the netizens were not happy with the news, calling it an act of favoritism as Ramiz Raja had played under the captaincy of Imran Khan. They also pointed out that Ramiz had formerly been the CEO of PCB in 2004, where his performance had not led to any positive change.
Read more: Match-fixing in Pakistan cricket: a reality that continues to haunt
Not sure how many people know this but Ramiz Raja was CEO of PCB in 2004 and he introduced so called green top wickets which led to a generation of hit the deck medium pacers and destroyed pace and reverse swing from Pakistan cricket.
— Cricketing Thoughts (@ThinkingCric) August 22, 2021
What plans he has in store for the future of Pakistan’s cricket will be a significant development to be seen in the coming years.