The 57-year-old also highlighted a tactical mistake made by Karachi Kings which cost them the game against Qalandars
09 March, 2020
PHOTO COURTESY: Shafiq Malik
Former cricketer Ramiz Raja believes that Pakistan should award honorary citizenship to Lahore Qalandars' batsman Ben Dunk in order to benefit from his power-hitting in international cricket.
While speaking in a Youtube video, the famous commentator was full of praise for the hard-hitting batsman’s 99-run match winning knock against Karachi Kings on Sunday.
“I think we should give him [Ben Dunk] honorary citizenship as well,” Raja said. “We should make him play for Pakistan because my wish is too see a Pakistani batsmen do similar kind of power-hitting. We haven’t seen any Pakistani batsman do this kind of hitting except for Shadab Khan this season.”
“Ben Dunk is a completely different class of strike force and he played a marvelous knock,” he added.
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The 57-year-old also highlighted a tactical mistake made by Karachi Kings which cost them the game against Qalandars.
“Karachi played two-left arm spinners against Ben Dunk, knowing that Dunk had scored heavily against Mohammad Nawaz in the game against Quetta. Karachi should have learned from Quetta’s experience of bowling against Dunk and should have instead given Usama Mir a go,” he said. “There is a possibility that Usama Mir could have gone for runs as well, but he has big height and his googly might have worked against Dunk. I believe that was big tactical mistake from Karachi.”
“Substitute fielder Rizwan dropped Ben Dunk’s catch when Lahore still required 104, which proved to be turning point of the match. Although Rizwan is an agile fielder, but it was Ben Dunk’s day and after that he never looked back and played a brilliant innings,” he added.
Some Twitter users also echoed Ramiz Raja’s call for awarding Dunk with Pakistan citizenship.
Lahore Qalandars have reportedly filed a request for Ben Dunk's honorary citizenship of Pakistan #LQvsKK #KKvLQ
— Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) March 8, 2020
BEN DUNK Should be rewarded with the citizenship of Lahore 😂#PSL #LQ🏆
— Anas Alvi (@AnasAlvi98) March 9, 2020
Ben Dunk should be given Honoury Citizenship also to be a part of Pakistan T20 Squad 😉
— Furqan Mughal (@mughal_furqan) March 9, 2020
When will Rana Fawad start lobbying for Ben Dunk’s citizenship? #LQvsKK #PSL2020
— Sufiyan Maqsood (@IamSufiyanM) March 8, 2020
A referendum in Lahore right now could very well unanimously offer Ben Dunk a Pakistani citizenship but perhaps also nominate him Chief Minister Punjab !!!
— Naveid Siddiqui (@SiddiquiNaveid) March 8, 2020
