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✪ Pakistan’s new cricket chief, Ramiz Raja, is a friend of the UAE, and journalists
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”3px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”width: 75% !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”width: 100% !important;”][et_pb_blurb title=”K R Nayar” image=”https://cricketlovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/K-R-Nayar1.png” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” image_max_width_tablet=”” image_max_width_phone=”” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” content_max_width_tablet=”” content_max_width_phone=”” content_max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Poppins|700|||on||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#E02B20″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”Poppins||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#565656″ custom_padding=”|||550px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|||20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_blurb_image=”width:70px;” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Senior cricket writer & analyst
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_image src=”https://cricketlovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rameez-raja-fb-1.jpg” title_text=”rameez raja fb (1)” align=”center” align_tablet=”” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” animation_style=”zoom” border_radii=”off|5px|2px|2px|90px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#FFFFFF” border_width_left=”18px” border_color_left=”#012169″ box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_blur=”21px” box_shadow_spread=”3px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.7″ text_font_size=”15px” header_3_font=”Poppins||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#012169″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”8px||||false|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” animation_style=”flip” animation_direction=”right” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Ramiz Raja, the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, carries with him an immense knowledge of the game and also has the ability to express his views clearly. Having travelled extensively around the world to almost all venues as a commentator after his playing days, Raja is well aware of the pulse of cricketers these days. A regular to the UAE from his playing days in the mid-eighties and then as a commentator, he is a friend to many cricket fans in this country .
Ramiz Raja, who took over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s 36th chairman, is a friend of the UAE. His regular visits to this country from the mid-eighties as a player and then as a commentator have earned him many admirers and close friends.
There are many interesting facts about this new chairman, including the one in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup final. It was Ramiz who took the catch of England’s last man Richard Illingworth off the bowling of Imran Khan to seal the 22-run win in the final and help Pakistan emerge World Champions. The man who took the catch has been rightly picked by the present Prime Minister Imran and entrusted the task of lifting Pakistan cricket to greater heights.
Ramiz was once a guest of honour at the launch of an academy in Dubai, 23 years after that final in 2015. He acknowledged the trivia about his role in the World Cup win to Ritwik Sen, who was the master of ceremony for that event. In fact, his career exploits have been closely followed by many of his fans here in the UAE.
The first time Ramiz came to play at the Sharjah cricket stadium was on March 22 for the 1985 Rothman’s Four Nations Cup. It was his eighth One Day International and he came out to bat at the one-drop position. In the seven One Day matches that he played before, he had scores of 75 on debut against New Zealand, then followed it up with 59 in the next match, and 60 against a West Indies attack made up of Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding(who later became his co-commentator), and Winston Davis to emerge as the man of the match.
Hence everyone at Sharjah was eager to see him bat. Unfortunately, he got out to Kapil Dev at the score of 29. However, thereafter he was always a part of all tournaments to Sharjah. I had reported his knock of 64 against West Indies in the 1988 Champions Trophy as well as his unbeaten 109 in the final of the 1993 Wills Trophy against Sri Lanka. Little did I know then that he would become someone I would get to meet regularly in the press box as a commentator. Every time I have approached him for an interview, he has obliged and given me some great comments. His in-depth knowledge of the game always gave me the feeling that he should have captained Pakistan in many more matches than he actually did.
Ramiz’s friendship with many businessmen and cricket fans in the UAE has made him an entrepreneur too. Says businessman Ajay Sethi, the chairman of Channel 2 Group, who partnered with Ramiz to set up T-Lounge at the Ibn Batuta Mall in 2017. “Ramiz is one of the finest business partners I’ve worked with and it was a great experience working with him. Ramiz used to regularly tour Sri Lanka and he got connected with Dilmah tea owners and decided to set up a T-Lounge here. He was very particular to invest equally in the business and always delivered what he promised. He is educated and knowledgeable, and what attracted me is his honesty. I am sure it must be these qualities that Imran Khan spotted to give him the reigns of Pakistan cricket.”
It is his integrity that earned him the captaincy of Pakistan. He maintained the dignity of a cricketer, both on and off the field. Says cricket enthusiast Shyam Bhatia: “I knew him from his playing days in Sharjah. He is one of the most well-spoken cricketers and a fine commentator. He has deep knowledge of the game and I have been fortunate to spend a lot of time with him speaking about cricket. Ramiz has visited my cricket museum too. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan cricket for a short span and had done a great job then. I am sure he will prove to be a fine administrator and will benefit Pakistan cricket in a big way.”
It was during his days as the Chief Executive Officer that the ties between India and Pakistan got strengthened. Ramiz’s father-in-law is from Karnal, Haryana and his mother-in-law hails from Jaipur in India. During my interviews with him, he always stressed the importance of India-Pakistan matches. He once said: “India and Pakistan should play together to save cricket.” On another occasion, he’d said: “Cricket needs India-Pakistan matches.”
Ramiz carries with him the experience of having played 57 Test matches and 198 ODIs. He has scored 8,674 runs from both forms of the game. He will become only the fourth former Pakistan international cricketer to become Pakistan’s cricket chief after Abdul Hafeez Kardar (1972-1977), Mr Javed Burki (1994-1995) and Mr Ijaz Butt (2008-2011). He has represented Pakistan on the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and is on the MCC World Cricket Committee.
While it will be a gain for Pakistan cricket, listeners of cricket will miss his voice. Ramiz, who is known as the voice of Pakistan, will now be focused on Pakistan cricket for the next three years. His “Good morning everyone” while addressing all journalists at the press box as soon as he arrived for commentary, will have to wait for some time.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” prev_text=”Previous Story” next_text=”Next Story” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_post_nav][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”width: 35% !important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”width: 100% !important;”][et_pb_sidebar orientation=”right” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_sidebar][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
