Former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has publicly addressed the backlash following his controversial interview with Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood.
The interview, conducted alongside Zainab Abbas after the conclusion of the Pakistan vs England Test series, drew significant criticism, particularly for Raja’s line of questioning regarding Masood’s leadership during a challenging series.
Under Masood's captaincy, the Pakistan national team faced a humiliating start to the series, suffering six consecutive losses.
However, the team rebounded spectacularly, clinching a series victory at home for the first time in over 1300 days, with spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali leading the charge against England.
During the interview, Raja inquired about the team’s prior struggles, asking, “How did you achieve this, six losses in a row?” This question was perceived by many, including former players like Mohammad Amir, as a mockery of Masood's leadership at a time of celebration.
The sentiment echoed across social media, with critics labelling Raja’s approach as inappropriate and disparaging.
Raja, responding to the outcry on his official YouTube channel, stressed that his intention was never to belittle Masood or undermine the team's achievement.
“I asked a couple of questions, and my goal wasn’t to belittle anyone or cast Pakistan's victory in a negative light,” he stated. He underscored the importance of Pakistan’s success for the cricketing ecosystem, expressing that more victories pave the way for greater opportunities within the sport.
“The more Pakistan wins, the more opportunities open up for all of us in the cricketing ecosystem,” Ramiz Raja added.
Frustrated by the uproar, Ramiz Raja dismissed the influence of social media on his professional life.
“If I lived my life based on social media narratives, I wouldn’t be in this field,” he remarked.
He further slated the “uninformed opinions” of those who, lacking experience in cricket, position themselves as experts.
“When Bangladesh won 2-0, I didn’t ask for anyone to be removed. Why would I question Shan's captaincy after a series win?” he concluded.
