'Ramiz Raja must step down,' Sikander Bakht after Zimbabwe loss

Sikander Bakht, a former cricket player who is now an analyst, was unhappy with how the Pakistan team was run or with PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja after the Men in Green lost to Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2022.

On Thursday, Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by one run in a last-over thriller in a shocking turn of events at the big event.

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The former Test cricket player said Raja should step down after Pakistan's disappointing loss.

"PCB chairman Ramiz Raja should resign immediately," said Bakht, who sees no chance of Pakistan qualifying for the final four in the marquee event. 

"Not only chairman, but head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and batting coach Mohammad Yousaf should also resign," maintained Bakht. 

The analyst also questioned the rankings of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in T20Is.

"What should we do with the number one batter? I know Babar is a top batter but what's his contribution? Pakistan has nothing to do with your ranking until you win matches," the former cricketer said, who last played his international match in 1983. 

Bakht also said that wicketkeeper Rizwan was to blame for Pakistan's loss in the Asia Cup Final.

"We kept saying that their approach was not up to the mark. They are playing for themselves, your middle order is failing again and again, but no one heard," said the cricket expert. 

"Rizwan was to be blamed for our Asia Cup Final loss. They should have given chances to our middle-order batting," he said while taking a dig at Pakistan's top order, especially Babar and Rizwan. 

Bakht also thinks Haider Ali is playing in the Pakistan team due to someone's influence. 

"I am surprised to see him in the team despite no performance," said Bakht. "More surprisingly, he got promoted from diamond to platinum in PSL this year without any performance. I mean, how can a player be given so much priority with zero performance?" he questioned. 

"I think he is playing on someone's influence," said Bakht while clarifying that his criticism is just for the betterment of the Pakistan team and not personal grudges.