'Walk the talk if you become PCB chairman': Kamran Akmal advises Ramiz Raja

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, in a Youtube video on Sunday, advised former cricketer Ramiz Raja to walk the talk if he became the next Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The 39-year-old addressed recent rumors of Ramiz Raja’s appointment as the next PCB Chairman by saying that grassroot level cricket concerns need to be addressed.

“He [Ramiz Raja] has been in the PCB in the past. He made region cricket and changed the system from division cricket. There is a new system now that was the Prime Minister’s vision. We have always heard him talking about how the team should plan, become mentally strong and develop. When he comes in as chairman, he will have an opportunity and would want to see how to raise the graph of our cricket team. This will happen if he makes correct decisions and looks after cricket,” Akmal said.

“Cricket doesn’t improve at the international level. If you want good cricketers, you have to make them at the grassroot level. Unfortunately, no one has been paying attention to it in the recent past. This is why cricketers at the lower level are ignored. We have all seen how sensitive he is regarding cricket with his words. It is time to walk the talk now,” he added.

ALSO READ: Pakistan are one of the favourites for T20 World Cup: Imad Wasim

The wicketkeeper-batsman was adamant that Ramiz Raja’s appointment as the next PCB chairman will be great for the cricketers of the country.

“He [ Ramiz Raja] hasn’t been going for commentary duties in the last couple of series and that gave us some signals for the future. A cricketer coming in as a chairman would benefit domestic cricket. It will bring in money. There was a lot of talk about bringing in money by commercialising so that players get money. Ramiz bhai coming in will benefit players financially. Maybe the teams might improve as well. Management might get better as well because he has been a captain himself,” he said.

“Domestic cricket right now needs a lot of attention. Ehsan Mani had been there for a long time, but we have seen that Wasim Khan did most of the work. I think cricket should improve regardless of whether Ramiz Raja is appointed the new chairman or Ehsan Mani gets an extension. Internationally, we are in need of victories. We need to improve the team. Ramiz Raja coming in might lead to an improvement in the side. Ramiz bhai has talked a lot about grassroot cricket, that players are created at that stage,” he concluded.