Former Pakistan player Ramiz Raja has slammed Pakistan for losing the first Test against Bangladesh from an advantageous position as well. He added that the hosts were found wanting in both the bowling and batting departments as well. However, Pakistan declared their first innings at 448/6 but allowed Bangladesh to post 565 in their first innings after reducing them to 218/5. Later, Pakistan were then bowled out for 146 in their second innings in Rawalpindi on Sunday, August 25 and, eventually lost the game by 10 wickets.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Ramiz Raja shared, “If any team can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, it’s the Pakistan team, and their reputation has become like that. This has not happened for the first time that Pakistan have floundered on the fifth day of Test cricket. Sometimes batting is a flop show and they bowl badly on other occasions.”
“It becomes an odd story whenever pressure mounts on this team. I feel it’s a serious problem. Your belief system goes off as soon as pressure mounts on you, especially on the bowlers, as they start bowling bad spells. The batters don’t have the ability at all as it becomes a flop show whenever there is slight sideways movement,” Ramiz Raja further added.
Raja also questioned Pakistan for not playing a specialist spinner in the game. Part-time spinner Agha Salman ended up bowling 41 overs and conceded 136 runs but went wicketless.
“The fast bowling reputation has finished. The debacle started from the Asia Cup. The confidence crisis in this bowling lineup, especially in fast bowling, started from the match against India. Our fast bowlers were thrashed in seaming conditions. Then the entire world figured out that if they are attacked, this bowling attack is not of the same standard as its reputation. Everyone’s speed has gone down and the skill level is not there. The Bangladesh fast bowlers looked more penetrative. Our bowlers are mostly looking to enjoy or create drama after picking up a wicket rather than create their reputation through performance,” Ramiz Raja concluded.
