‘Are we servant of India’ – Ramiz Raja lashes out after India’s refusal to tour Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023

The Indian Cricket Board announced that India will not travel to Pakistan to play the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup and also proposed the idea for the tournament to be held at a neutral venue. After Jay Shah’s announcement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to boycott the ODI World Cup, which will be played in India after the Asia Cup.

Ramiz Raja, who was recently fired from his position as PCB chairman, shared his thoughts on the subject and cited other instances where teams had backed out of games because of security concerns and what transpired as a result. He requested the board members not to bow to India’s demands and show some leadership.

These are not signs of good leadership: Ramiz Raja

“What is leadership? When Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has asked Pakistan to host a tournament and then India say they won’t travel to Pakistan and shift the tournament to a neutral venue, what should be the response? Are we servant of India just because they are a world power in cricket? Should we listen to everything they say?)” Ramiz said on Dunya News.

The 60-year-old believes that the Pakistan team and its supporters deserve a lot more respect than they are getting now.

“We will think, will we get isolated, we’ll ask permission from the government then talks will move further. These are not signs of good leadership. The Pakistan cricket team is enjoying a great run, you have a good fan following, you have superstars, so please give your team and fans the respect they deserve,” he added.

After being removed as the chairman of the PCB, Ramiz should be back in the commentary box. When the Imran Khan government was in charge, he was appointed chairman. Ramiz was supposed to lose power when it fell, but he managed to hold on until recently when current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Najam Sethi as the new chairman.