Former Pakistan Test cricketer turned commentator Ramiz Raja claimed that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should not pave a path for Sharjeel Khan’s return to the national cricket team.
Ramiz Raja has always spoken against including corrupt players, which is why he opposed the return of Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif who had been involved in a spot-fixing scandal.
Speaking about Sharjeel Khan applying for PCB’s rehabilitation program, Ramiz questioned:
Have we run out of batsmen that we have to bring back a cricketer who has brought shame to Pakistan Cricket?
He further added that talent should not be the only criteria for selection in the team.
We have suffered numerous times from bringing back tainted players yet we continue to welcome them just because of their talent. We should avoid being desperate and rather give new talent a chance to prosper.
Talking about PCB’s decision to remove the coaching staff including Mickey Arthur, Ramiz said that it was a good decision especially because they were given apt time to show their worth but they failed.
The coaching staff worked really hard with the team, but they failed to change the team’s fortune in Test and One-day Internationals (ODI). The system also failed them as they didn’t get finished products from our domestic cricket, which is why the team’s performance was inconsistent.
