Ramiz Raja says a PCB chairman who doesn’t understand cricket, probably was not even good enough to make it to the XI in a club game, heads a cabal of political, petty-minded club runners for a management committee to run Pakistan cricket affairs
Ramiz Raja ripped into the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the Mickey Arthur appointment and called it ‘crazy as a clown in a village circus’ stuff while the much-awaited appointment of the former coach as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team was officially announced by the PCB on Thursday.
Ramiz Raja ripped into the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the Mickey Arthur appointment and called it ‘crazy as a clown in a village circus’ stuff.
The much-awaited appointment of the former coach as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team was officially announced by the PCB on Thursday (April 20).
“A first-of-its-kind coach/director of cricket picked to run Pakistan cricket remotely, whose loyalty is first with his county job than Pakistan cricket. This is as crazy as a clown in a village circus,”
Ramiz told Cricbuzz, launching a scathing attack on the PCB. Ramiz (60) is a former Pakistan captain who was the head of the PCB board till recently.
The PCB said Arthur (54) will be involved in developing, creating, and overseeing strategies behind the Pakistan men’s team but he will not travel with the team for all assignments as he is associated with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
“(He) will also be a part of the coaching staff for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, away tour to Australia, and home series against the West Indies. He will also be present with the side for Pakistan’s matches against India in the ACC Asia Cup,”
the PCB said.
“A PCB chairman who doesn’t understand cricket, probably was not even good enough to make it to the XI in a club game, heads a cabal of political, petty-minded club runners for a management committee to run Pakistan cricket affairs, who are on a Rs 12 lakhs a month salary,”
Raja (60), who played 57 Tests 198 ODIs and was part the country’s World Cup-winning side in 1992, further said. Najam Sethi is the current chairman of the PCB.
Arthur is the head of cricket, at Derbyshire County, which said the Pakistan assignment is “secondary to his commitments at the Incora County Ground.”
“Derbyshire remains Mickey’s main focus, however, he continues to be an ambitious coach, and having our Head of Cricket lead Pakistan in the ICC World Cup, as well as in international series’, will be a great opportunity for our Club to be represented on the world stage,”
Derbyshire Chief Executive Ryan Duckett said.
Adding,
“Mickey was approached by the Pakistan Cricket Board over the Christmas period and he was always very open with the Club, contacting me immediately and committing to Derbyshire.
“A coach of Mickey’s caliber will naturally attract attention; however, I am delighted by his continued dedication to his role, the group of players, and the Club as a whole.”
Arthur signed a contract extension to remain with Derbyshire until the end of 2025 summer.
From 2016 to 2019, Arthur (54) served as a member of the Pakistan team for the first time. During that period, he helped the team win the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 and guided Pakistan to the No. 1 spot in Tests and T20Is.
