Former Pakistan skipper Raja slams senior players, lauds Anderson, after series loss

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Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has laid into the team’s current crop of senior players whom he felt were anonymous in the series loss to England.

Raja believes the senior players in the side are given far too much leeway, and changes need to be made even when it is veterans who are failing.

Pakistan threatened to give England stiff competition at points in the series but were never able to make that pay off and lost the series 1-0 after letting the opening Test slip from their grasp. 

“There are problems in the Pakistan camp, not just of late but from a while now as far as away tours are concerned. This year we lost to South Africa, Australia and now England. We compete in the first Test but progressively our form tapers off as the series progresses,” Raja said in a video uploaded to his own YouTube channel.

“What is the role of senior players? Will they keep on failing and will we still keep playing them? Why are we hesitant to bring in new players, especially batsmen?

“Decision making has to be strong. Experimentation and ruthless strong decisions is the only way up,” the Pakistan icon added.

James Anderson has climbed Mount Everest

Raja may have been harsh on Pakistan’s senior players but he was effusive in his praise for England’s James Anderson who claimed his 600th Test wicket during the drawn third Test.

“James Anderson got his 600th wicket by dismissing Azhar Ali and became the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets. His performance is like someone who has successfully climbed Mount Everest.

“James Anderson gave respect to Test cricket and thus he got respect in return. He wanted to become a great Test player and so he became,”  Raja signed off.

Having won back-to-back series before facing England, Pakistan were hopeful that the era of Misbah Ul Haq as coach would prove to be a very successful one. Now there are concerns that the same old problems continue to plague the side loaded with talent.

Pakistan face England in a three-match T20I series that will round off their tour and first experience of a bio-secure environment.

Ramiz Raja

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