'I Would've Banned Them Forever': Ramiz Raja Makes Explosive Comment On Legendary Pakistani Duo

Wasim Akram was a leading figure in Justice Qayyum's report, after which the speedster was fined and stripped of Pakistan's captaincy. Waqar Younis was also fined after the report became public.

Cricketer-turned-administrator Ramiz Raja said that if it was in his hands, he would have banned both Akram and Younis forever.

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Sacked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja, citing Justice Qayyum's report on match-fixing, made an explosive remark on former cricketers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Wasim Akram was a leading figure in Justice Qayyum's report, after which the speedster was fined and stripped of Pakistan's captaincy. Waqar Younis was also fined after the report became public. However, Waqar and Akram returned to Pakistan cricket in coaching roles. He also said that when Akram and Younis were brought back into the system, he had no choice but to work with them as he was powerless.

Speaking to Samaa TV, cricketer-turned-administrator Ramiz Raja said that if it was in his hands, he would have banned both of them forever.

"I think no one should have had the chance (of coming back to Pakistan cricket). If Wasim Akram's name is in there, and he was censured for not cooperating, right? It was a borderline case. If I was the decision maker at the time, I would've banned them forever," Raja said.

"You brought them back to system. I wasn't in power at the time. We were told to play with them and work with them, and that was it. No one knew how to tackle that. So many people were involved in that. I don't know what the compulsion was."

Asked whether he has the same stand on Pakistan trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, who were also banned in 2010 following spot-fixing allegations, he said, "Whoever is tainted, I've zero tolerance on it."

Amir made his comeback to Pakistan cricket team, years after serving his sentence for match-fixing. However, the left-arm pacer was dropped from the team during Raja's tenure.