THE very appointment of former Captain Ramiz Raja as the new Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) indeed is a fresh breath of air and a welcome development and this cricket frenzy nation may expect improvement in the cricket team’s performance in the weeks and months ahead under his leadership.
The questions are also being raised whether Raja is the right man to head the PCB. In our view, yes, he is the most suitable person to steer the cricket in the right direction.
In his maiden press conference after election to the coveted seat, he made his intentions very clear of resetting the compass of the cricket.
He was vocal about developing the domestic game and players on a solid footing for the country to eventually become a potent force at the international level.
It is because of his knowledge and understanding of the game that helped him become a regular commentator with leading cricket broadcasters, presenting all formats of the game alongside the some of the most respected cricket voices.
Having backpacked around the globe year after year as a broadcaster, Ramiz has closely monitored the existing systems in other cricket-playing countries, and hopefully he can impart that knowledge to benefit Pakistan cricket in general.
Raja also served the PCB as its chief executive from 2003-04, represented Pakistan on the ICC chief executives’ committee and presently sits on the MCC World Cricket Committee.
During his role as a cricket administrator between 1999 and 2004, he played a lead role in setting up the state-of-the-art National High Performance Centre, which has now become a finishing school for the future cricket stars. Hence, with such a diverse experience, one has great expectations from him to deliver.
By appointing Matthew Hayden and Vernon Philander, at the very outset, as the coaches of Pakistan Cricket Team for the upcoming T-20 World Cup, he has shown that he means business and wants to deliver without wasting any time.
Whilst taking along other legends of the game, we are confident that he will take the right decisions to revive the old glory of Pakistan Cricket.