Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja on Tuesday said a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) influenced mindset had taken over the Indian cricket board and was trying to restrict Pakistan internationally.
Addressing an event at the Government College University Lahore, Ramiz Raja said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) because the majority of its revenue comes from India.
The former PCB chief said he took the stance for the country when India tried pressurising Pakistan to shift this year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue despite the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) decision to give hosting rights to Pakistan.
Raja, in October last year, had said that Pakistan will not go to India for ICC World Cup if the neighbouring country pulls out of the Asia Cup in Pakistan.
The former cricketer added that the Indian team, with a billion-dollar cricket industry, was unable to make it to the finals of the T20 World Cup but Pakistan did.
The former PCB chief said he focused on growth and consistency during his 1.5-year tenure, adding that over-throwing an existing setup by bulldozing the constitution is highly unfair.
He added that such radical changes in the board and system would demoralise young players adding that the resto-ration of PCB’s 2014 constitution has brought Pakistan cricket to a “dark age”.
The former Pakistan skipper alleged that the new setup promised to provide employment, however, they have fired over 150 coaches.
Rejecting the notion that cricketers are not good administrators, Raja said that cricket affairs should be run by cricketers and be kept out of politics. .—Agencies
