With the Pakistan cricket team going through yet another phase of turmoil, former cricketers have managed to grab the spotlight. One such former cricketer was Abdul Razzaq, who shared an interesting moment that came his way during the final of the World Championship of Legends being conducted in Birmingham. When asked if he got any motivational message from the Pakistan Cricket Board, Razzaq’s response was surprising and funny; he revealed that rather than words of encouragement, he got a termination letter from the PCB.
The query came from Sikander Bakht, another former Pakistan cricketer, who wanted to know from Razzaq if any messages had come from the PCB to state that they would either support the wins in the final or even give a prize for the win. That was Bakht’s way of asking if there was any special motivation from the PCB for these former players who were participating in the WCL. There is an expectation that the PCB will at least give a monetary reward for a victory or send words of good wishes.
Humorous Response Of Abdul Razzaq
To the question by Bakht, Razzaq responded and seemed to bring a hint of levity to the conversation.
He said,
I got a letter of termination. This was a very light-hearted way on the part of Razzaq to suggest the fact that instead of words of praise or words of encouragement, he had been removed from his job as a selector. This was supposed to be only a mock comment from him, but naturally, it reflected the gravity of a situation in which he was there at that point in time.
Razzaq was sacked as part of a massive shakeup in the Pakistan cricket setup. After a depressing performance during the T20 World Cup 2024, the PCB decided to make changes to the selection panel. Apart from Razzaq, another former cricketer, Wahab Riaz was asked to relinquish his post. The development came after an incessant flaw in the team’s performance in the T20 World Cup.
The PCB also sacked former fast bowler and one of the selectors, Wahab Riaz. It was a big decision because Wahab was considered to have very good relations with the current chairman of the board, Mohsin Naqvi. With the kind of ties Naqvi shares with Wahab and his later being a sports advisor in Punjab’s caretaker government, not many expected Wahab to see his time up. That was nothing short of a shock because this man held such an important position in the Pakistan cricket administration.
The sacking of both Razzaq and Riaz was surrounded by various controversies. The two were alleged to do favors for some of the players within the team, forcing others to stick to their choices, among others. The policy of selection was alleged to be aimed at massaging personal interests rather than the good of the team. Concerning the T20 World Cup, both Razzaq and Wahab Riaz were accused of their alleged role in masterminding the poor performance.
The Response from Wahab Riaz
To such allegations, Wahab Riaz came out defending himself and his fellow selector. He said that the decisions were unanimous in the seven-member panel. By claiming that every member is empowered to have an equal say in selection matters and that all are documented, Riaz expressed his frustration, overlaying the guilt at his and Razzaq’s doors and terming such claims as unfair.
Charges had been leveled at him for turning a blind eye toward bad behavior by key players such as Shaheen Shah Afridi during the recent T20 World Cup. The former pacer has been blamed for not taking a hard stance about the discipline and performance of the players as the manager of the senior team. Furthermore, he and Razzaq wanted to be flexible in picking players who were not in top form or fully fit for the World Cup.
The recent changes within the selection panel of Pakistan Cricket also indicate the challenges these managements have and are currently faced with because the leave available by Razzaq and Wahab is another approach toward the selection and management of any team. All these occurrences tell a lot about the complexities there are in managing the national cricket teams and the pressures, both internal and external, that impinge upon the game as the Pakistan team continues to rebuild.
