Ramiz Raja played 57 Tests for Pakistan and 198 One Day Internationals, scoring 11 centuries and 53 half-centuries between 1984 and 1997. An elegant opening batsmen, he was an integral member of the Pakistan limited overs team for over a decade and famously took the final catch in Pakistani cricket's crowning moment, the 1992 World Cup victory. 

A former captain of the national team, he continued his involvement with Pakistani cricket after his retirement as player, holding the position of Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board between 2003 and 2004. However these days he has forged a career as a cricket commentator working for top broadcasters across the world and duly establishing himself as the voice of Pakistani cricket. 

PakPassion.net caught up with Ramiz to discuss Pakistan's early exit from the Champions Trophy, Pakistan's preparations and planning ahead of the 2015 World Cup, Misbah-ul-Haq's future as one day captain and whether the time has come for a major overhaul of Pakistan's one day side.

by Saj Sadiq (25th June 2013)

PakPassion.net: Pakistan?s performance in the recently-concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2013 was very disappointing, for fans, the media and ex-players like yourself. Can you put your finger on why you think the tournament ended up being such a disaster for Pakistan?[/B]

Ramiz Raja: Quite frankly I haven't got a clue because Pakistan started off as one of the favourites because of the bowling resources. The bowling generally remained very good but it?s the batting, and that really has been the Achilles' heel for them. It?s been hurting them for so many years now and I?m afraid it will keep on hurting them unless they look at the batting structure, the first-class structure in fact, the Under 19s, the school cricket and all that; we are talking about, overhauling the entire system. 

It will take time, because I feel that there are so many substandard matches and tournaments at the top [domestic] level being played that it?s not producing the kind of talent that is required to win matches at the international level. They got badly exposed. Misbah actually was stuck in a way - he had to go with a bit of experience here in England because of English conditions but then when he had to pull out players he couldn?t, because everything happened so quickly and he didn?t have a lot of players on the bench. The bench strength wasn?t great and so he was stuck with the same combination and it did hit him quite badly in the end. The batting was the real issue.


PakPassion.net: What about the preparation? So much was made of this camp in Abbottabad and bringing in the batting coach Trent Woodhill. Do you think the preparation was right or could the PCB, the coaches and the think-tank have done anything differently?

Ramiz Raja: The preparation was OK, I think it?s just that they do not have the skills, the talent and the class to be successful and to be consistent. We?ve been backing or flogging dead horses because there is not good talent coming through the ranks, and so we are stuck with three or four batsmen that deliver in benign conditions and fail to deliver when the going gets tough. There is not enough quality.


PakPassion.net: Some of those dead horses that you mention, could Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat fall into that category?

Ramiz Raja: I?m not going to name names but I just feel the overall impression of the entire batting side was that it was a shambles. I?m not going to name any players because they?ve done really well in past matches. What I?m hitting at is the fact we now need to revamp the batting talent and we?ve got to take the plunge. We?ve tested the experienced ones and they?ve not been great in the world events and that is where your true class should come through. 

Whatever wonders or whatever records you may have created, it doesn?t matter if you don?t get those runs, those wins for your side at a World Cup or a Champions Trophy, because this is it, this is the ultimate test of your skills. If you can?t deliver at this stage, after being given so many chances then I don?t think you deserve to be in the side.


PakPassion.net: You make an important point about the World Cup in 2015; surely the planning starts for that tournament right now?

Ramiz Raja: It has to, it has to in all the departments. You know now India is the fielding benchmark for all countries and if India can improve their fielding standards so drastically then why can?t we? Batting of course needs to improve quite dramatically and I don?t know whether we have got enough talent coming through to win us the next World Cup. 

There?s always an Umar Akmal waiting in the wings, obviously he?s had his ups and downs but I would have ideally wanted him in this side and maybe Azhar Ali, two players that I think could have given Pakistan just a glimmer of hope. I?m not saying they could have won Pakistan matches, but could have offered just a glimmer of hope. Azhar Ali is a good tactical and technical batsman and Umar Akmal because of the way he plays the game can be a winner on his day. 

Batting is always going to be an issue, bowling I think we will always find bowlers, we will always find good bowlers and I think this bowling attack is not bad. We are talking about three bowlers bowling at over 140kph which is serious pace.


PakPassion.net: With the 2015 World Cup in mind, let?s talk about Misbah-ul-Haq who will be 40-41 by the then. He is still in excellent shape, his fielding was excellent and he was the top run-scorer for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. Should the PCB be looking to bring in a new captain now for the 2015 World Cup and leave Misbah in the team or, how else can they approach this issue of captaincy?

Ramiz Raja: Well, it?s a tough one! On paper the age of 41 looks extremely old for someone to be playing a sport like cricket. But then, who do we replace Misbah with? What are the options? If he is scoring runs, is sharp in the field and is taking catches and quietly leading the team in a certain direction, then in my view, we do not have an option. It?s probably best that we continue with the same captain. 

On the other hand, the age 41 is a little archaic by international standards. It is old, so it shocks you a little and is an uncomfortable feeling that no youngster can still replace a 41 year old batsman. It?s a very depressing situation, especially so when you look at India, our next door neighbour, where the Tendulkars, the Sehwags and the Gambhirs have given way to youth and the replacements have been outstanding. So, yes it?s a depressing situation but we need to give it more time as at this stage. It will be wrong to replace Misbah-ul-Haq with somebody who we do not know will be good enough in terms of skills.


PakPassion.net: The names that are being mentioned in regard to the tour of the West Indies are the same old names ? Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan? players who have played many matches and haven?t performed recently. That must also be a cause of concern for you?

Ramiz Raja: There is lack of talent. It?s as simple as that, which is also the reason why we fall back on these players over and over again, year after year, season after season and series after series. It?s truly a depressing situation.


PakPassion.net: With regards to Dav Whatmore, how much do you hold him responsible for the failings by Pakistan in the Champions Trophy? Is it the collective failure of selectors, players, captain and coach, or is it largely down to the coach?

Ramiz Raja: Well, a coach cannot be in control. I am from the old school of thought ? and it?s become so in recent times ? where I am all for giving absolute power to the captain without involving the coaching staff in team details. However, I have to say that with the introduction of Dav Whatmore I was expecting a cultural change as whenever Pakistan have employed a foreign coach, I have always felt that it?s been a good move as he comes from a different background with no extra baggage. He doesn?t get involved in our day-to-day politics. 

In summary, he is involved because we want to bring in a cultural change to the dressing room. That hasn?t happened. Now, I am not too bothered about performances as Whatmore cannot control the type of talent that is coming through our first-class system and the Under 19s, he's not responsible for that. He is given the kind of talent which is available ? he is not manufacturing it, nourishing or looking after this because, really, he can?t.

Whichever players he is getting have been through the system and in that regard, he is not responsible. However, are we seeing a cultural change in the Pakistan dressing room or line-up? I am not too sure. I am not privy to what happens in the dressing room but that is the big question and something to find out.


PakPassion.net: Thank you for your time

Ramiz Raja: No problem.