‘Pakistan cricket hit panic button’: Ramiz Raja slams PCB over unprecedented overhaul of England tour

Pakistan Cricket Team (ANI Photo) Former Pakistan batsman and PCB chairman Ramiz Raja criticized the current board for what he described as a panic-induced response to the team’s disastrous Test tour of England.The PCB made sweeping changes after Pakistan lost the first two Tests of the three-match series and sent home seven players ahead of the final match in Birmingham. Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha are among those dropped from the tour, while seven replacements have been brought into the squad.The changes also affected the coaching staff. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul have been relieved of their positions, white ball coach Mike Hesson will take charge of the third Test.Ramiz believes the scale and timing of the overhaul could further damage the confidence of Pakistan’s players rather than solving the team’s problems.“I’m trying to convince myself that it’s all fine, but it’s not. It just shows that Pakistan cricket has hit the panic button. It’s not good for the game, it’s not good for the confidence of the players who have come in, it’s not good for the players who are left because it makes you a selfish team,” Ramiz, BBC Radio 5 Live.“What is the guarantee that they will get results? Some of these guys have not played Test cricket. I have no idea why this has happened,” he added.

Ramiz questions the unprecedented overhaul

Pakistan’s performances in England have been poor from the start.They suffered an innings defeat in the opening Test at Headingley before England won the Lord’s Test by 194 runs. During their four innings in the series, Pakistan failed to reach 200 on each occasion.However, Ramiz questioned whether replacing such a large number of players midway through the tour could suddenly change the team’s fortunes.“I’m really not happy with the situation. How many times have we seen this in world cricket? Never, never. This is more like football, mid-season, sacking a manager. If you ask me how things can be fixed, I have no idea,” Ramiz said.The former PCB chairman also pointed out the uncertainty created for both the players who were sent home and those who were suddenly brought into the team.With the third Test looming, several newcomers are expected to adapt quickly to Test cricket and the conditions in England.

The changes come amid the Lord’s controversy

The PCB’s drastic decisions came during an already turbulent tour.The Lord’s Test was played against the backdrop of an off-field dispute involving the sons of former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan.Sky Sports broadcast an interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan during the lunch break on the opening day. The program focused on their father’s circumstances and sparked reports that the PCB was considering withdrawing Pakistan from the rest of the Test and possibly the tour.Pakistan eventually went ahead with the game, while captain Babar Azam and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said they were not aware of any plan to boycott the match.The timing of the latest changes has also drawn attention as the Pakistan contingent is due to meet King Charles at Clarence House during his stay in the UK.Pakistan will now try to salvage something from the tour when they face England in the third and final Test in Birmingham.