Former Pakistan batter Ramiz Raja has lashed out at the Shan Masood-led team after their shocking 2-0 Test series loss against Bangladesh. The Tigers stunned the hosts by 10 wickets in the opening Test match at Rawalpindi. Subsequently, the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led team won the second Test at the same venue by six wickets.
Raja slammed Pakistan’s bowling line-up, stating it is a first-class bowling attack and not a Test cricket bowling attack. The hosts had Bangladesh in a pickle at 26-6 in the first innings of the second Test match but their bowlers failed to kill the game.
After losing the opening Test, Pakistan excluded pacers like Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi and included inexperienced bowlers like Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, and Abrar Ahmed in the second Test.
Ramiz Raja said on his YouTube Channel, “It’s the job of the leader to fight. Agreed he (Masood) is a young captain, agreed the bowling attack was young, but he had picked up this bowling attack. It’s a first-class bowling attack, not a test cricket bowling attack. He has to answer about his own performance. He is not scoring and the way Bangladesh squeezed, somebody has to be called for explanation, senior players needs to explain.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan also could not make it to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after they were stunned by the USA. Raja noted that Pakistan fans are disappointed with their team’s dismal show.
“Lots of fans are disheartened. Why do someone watch Pakistan’s test cricket, because when you surf television channels and watch quality and classy cricket elsewhere, why should someone stop and watch how low can they (Pakistan cricketers) go,” said Ramiz.
“Only (Mohammad) Rizwan fights. The overall (cricket) structure is shaken and when the foundation is shaken, sponsors are shaken, fans are shaken and expectations are dead. They (players) have to take onus. This is the season to make a name. You have to get yourself up mentally and there are no excuses. … When there’s no blame game, only then you can go upward.”
Pakistan will next take on England in a three-match Test series, starting October 7.
