LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and ex-PCB CEO Ramiz Raja has delivered a scathing assessment of the state of Pakistan cricket in his latest vlog, warning that declining fan interest and repeated failures on the field are pushing the sport into dangerous territory.
Ramiz highlighted how cricket, once a daily obsession in Pakistani households, is losing its grip on the public. He recounted conversations near Gaddafi Stadium, where locals admitted they only realise matches are happening when traffic is blocked. “Pakistan cricket used to be a staple in our households… now that passion is gone or happens very rarely,” he lamented.
He criticised the constant flip-flopping between departmental and non-departmental cricket, arguing that such instability prevents the development of a strong domestic pipeline. “True progress only happens when the system is strong enough for a player to learn, perform, improve, and then transition to the international stage. We are forgetting the basics,” Ramiz said.
Ramiz defended the removal of Shan Masood, who lost 12 of his 16 Tests as captain, but questioned the decision to give Babar Azam only two series in his new stint. “Giving a captain just two series is fundamentally flawed. He will play for survival, not inspiration,” he warned, urging the PCB to provide long-term backing to foster team culture.
The former skipper expressed alarm over the decline in pace of frontline bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, stressing the need for transparent dialogue about their fitness and motivation.
