Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has made an explosive revelation that the current PCB management committee, led by Najam Sethi, is requiring him to apologize for his recent critical statements in order to be considered for the commentary panel of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8. Raja was ousted as chairman of PCB in December 2022, when the Shehbaz Sharif-led government appointed Sethi to lead the 14-member committee responsible for overseeing the operations of the board before holding elections.
Raja was asked about his chances of doing commentary for PSL 8 during a Q&A session with fans on his YouTube channel. In response, he stated that the PCB's management committee wants him to apologize and submit an application for commentary, which they would then review. Raja expressed his disbelief at this requirement and questioned whether he would comply.
The former cricket star has been vocal about his disappointment since being dismissed from the PCB. He has stated that political interference in cricket is not justified and that removing a Test cricketer from the chairmanship of the PCB is a highly disrespectful way of treating cricketers. Raja has also criticized the motives of people outside of cricket who are trying to act like a messiah and only seeking the limelight.
After the dismissal, Raja stated that the Najam Sethi-led management committee repealed the 2019 constitution, which allowed the 2014 legislation to come into effect. This has caused a great deal of controversy, with many people expressing their disappointment with the state of cricket in Pakistan.
The PSL 8 is set to begin on February 13 with a match between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and the 2021 champions, Multan Sultans. The opening ceremony will take place at the Multan Cricket Stadium, and the tournament will conclude on March 19 in Lahore. Rawalpindi will host 11 fixtures, while Karachi and Lahore will each host nine matches. Multan will host five games.
