Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja claimed that the debacle and confidence crisis of the national men’s team pacers started with the defeat against India in the Super 4s stage of the Asia Cup 2023.
Raja’s statement came after Pakistan succumbed to their first-ever defeat against Bangladesh in Tests.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Raja questioned several strategies of the Pakistan team; including going with an all-pace attack, letting Bangladesh bat for 167.3 overs and accumulating 565 in their first innings.
Ramiz Raja further asserted that the reputation of Pakistan pacers has been finished.
“Firstly, there was a mistake in team selection. You were without a spinner. Secondly, the reputation based on which we rely on our fast bowlers is finished,” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel.
“This debacle, a sort of a confidence crisis, started during the Asia Cup when India bashed our pacers on seaming conditions and then the secret was out to the world that the only way to counter this line-up was to attack. Their speeds have decreased, and so have their skill set,” he added.
Raja further compared Bangladesh’s pace attack with that of Pakistan, stating that their bowlers were more focused. He also questioned the decline in the pace of the national fast bowlers.
“The Bangladesh fast bowlers seemed more penetrative, while our bowlers were involved more in enjoying the dismissals and creating drama around them rather than impressing with their performances,” said Raja.
“The speeds of Pakistan’s fast bowlers are less. If you don’t have an out-and-out fast bowler on this pitch and only have one-dimensional 125 to 135 kmph pacers, a batting line-up like Bangladesh will stand tall against you,” he added.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
The former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman also criticised Test captain Shan Masood for his captaincy while also mentioning the southpaw’s poor form with the bat.
“Shan Masood is currently on a losing streak. I understand, in Australian conditions, things are tougher and it’s almost impossible for them to win a series there. But you are now losing in home conditions, against a team like Bangladesh, because you did not read the conditions well. The batters couldn’t take inspiration from the first innings performance and the bowlers were horrendous.
“Masood needs to improve his batting and show his knowledge of the game. He is an experienced skipper, having led in PSL and County matches. I couldn’t understand the basis on which he felt leaving grass on the Rawalpindi would make the ball swing in August and would win them the match,” Ramiz Raja added.
READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed among five mentors named for Champions Cup