Ever since former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has become the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, he has never minced his words without caring whether people liked it or not. His fiery press conferences and straightforwardness in dealing with every situation made sure he remained in the headlines more often than not. However, Ramiz Raja may have just gone overboard after the Asia Cup final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai on Sunday.
Raja’s behavior was completely unexpected towards an Indian journalist asking what can be described as a routine question was totally unexpected and uncalled for. Ramiz Raja was leaving the Dubai International Stadium after Pakistan’s 23-run loss to Sri Lanka when a few journalists and fans circled him to get his reaction to the match.
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Among them was an Indian journalist who asked him if he had any message for Pakistan’s people who must be disheartened after the defeat in the final. Ramiz was visibly pissed with the question and started countering the journalist for using the word ‘awam’ (common people).
The journalist tried his best to make Ramiz Raja understand that it was a generic question with no intention to take a jibe at the Pakistan fans but Ramiz paid no heed to it and in the end, grabbed the journalist’s phone to stop the recording. The journalist shared the video of the same on Twitter of the entire incident and it went viral instantly.
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Here’s a transcription of the entire conversation between Ramiz Raja and the Indian journalist:
Journalist: “Awam badi nakhush hai. Unke lie koi sandesh? (The people must be unhappy. Any message for them?)
Ramiz Raja: “Dekhie aap India se honge, aapke (awam) toh bohut khush honge.” (You must be from India, your people must be very happy).
Journalist: “Hum khush nahi hai. (No, we are not happy).”
Ramiz Raja: “Kaunsi awam? (Which people?)”
Journalist: “Maine dekha hai Pakistan k logo ko rote hue jate. Kya main ghalat bol raha hu Ramiz bhai? (I’ve seen Pakistani fans go back crying after the loss. Am I saying something wrong?”)
Ramiz Raja: “Aap awam ko generalise kar rahe hai. (You are generalising ‘the people’)
After this, Ramiz Raja was seen trying to snatch the journalist’s phone. That was not the end of the drama. Ramiz was also seen warning a fan who had kept his arms over his shoulder and had gotten too close for comfort. “Please ye hath hataiye. Aur aap camera se thoda side ho jaye (Please keep your hands off me and stay away from the camera),” he said.
क्या मेरा सवाल ग़लत था – क्या पाकिस्तान के फ़ैन नाखुश नहीं है – ये बहुत ग़लत था एक बोर्ड के चेयरमैन के रूप में – आपको मेरा फ़ोन नहीं छीनना चाहिये था – that’s not right Mr Chairman Taking my phone was not right @TheRealPCB @iramizraja #PAKvSL #SLvsPAK pic.twitter.com/tzio5cJvbG
— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) September 11, 2022
Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka rode impressive fighting fifty by Bhanuka Rajapaksa (71 not out off 45) and an attacking knock by Wanindu Hasaranga (36 off 21) to post 170/6 against Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup 2022. Apart from Rajapaksa and Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva (28 off 21) and Chamika Karunaratne (14 not out off 14) also played vital knocks for Sri Lanka, during their stay at the crease.
