In what comes as a significant development in the cricketing world, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has reportedly been removed from the role on December 21 (Wednesday). It is further being learned that Najam Sethi will succeed Raja as the PCB Chairman.
After much speculation, this is set to mark the end of Raja's stint at the helm of PCB, which saw him in control of administration during 2 T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 as well as a Women's ODI World Cup earlier this year. Raja had replaced Ehsan Mani in September 2021. The former captain remained in the news recently for his statements condemning Asian Cricket Council President Jay Shah's remark that India won't travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year. Raja had said, in that case, Pakistan won't participate in the ODI World Cup in India.
Notably, Sethi has already served as the PCB chairman before. Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had appointed him as the PCB Chairman after the Islamabad High Court's order of the appointment of an intermin chairman since there was a pending case on the then serving chairman Zaka Ashraf. When Imran Khan became the Prime Minister, Sethi had to resign and Mani was announced as his replacement in a tweet by ex-cricketer turned politician Imran.
As claimed in a Geo News report citing sources, Najam Sethi's appointment as the PCB Chairman has been approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Want the future generation to think of Test as T20 format: Raja
Recently, Pakistan captain Babar Azam had given a strong response to Raja's advice of picking T20 players in Test format after England's success with an aggressive approach in the recent times.
“Like England for example, I suggested to Babar that England are playing the T20 format in a five-day version, so you better pick T20 players here. It’s a forced mindset on Pakistan, which I absolutely like. I want the future generation to think of it as a T20 format, like England are playing,” the 60-year-old had said.
When Babar was asked about this at a press conference, he responded by saying: "The door is not shut for anyone. There is a set plan for everything and we have it for every format. You can’t change things in a day or week. It takes time. For mindset to change, it takes time."
Notably, Pakistan lost the three-match Test series at home to England 0-3, a historic feat for the Three Lions who were travelling to Pakistan for the first time in 17 years.