Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Ramiz Raja, has expressed his disagreement with recent comments made by former cricketer, Shoaib Akhtar, about current and former Pakistani cricketers.
In particular, Akhtar had criticized the communication skills of current Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, and stated that he wants him to become as big a brand as Indian superstar, Virat Kohli. Additionally, Akhtar had mocked Kamran Akmal's pronunciation of the word 'screen' on live television.
Speaking on a local TV channel, Raja expressed his disappointment with Akhtar's comments and advised him to refrain from making unnecessary and over-the-top statements about other cricketers. Raja went on to call Akhtar a "delusional superstar" and criticized him for wanting everyone to become a brand, instead of focusing on becoming a good human being first.
Raja also expressed his concern about the negative impact that such comments can have on the reputation of Pakistani cricket. He highlighted that such behavior is not seen in neighboring countries, such as India, where former cricketers do not criticize each other publicly. Raja argued that Pakistani former cricketers need to allow others to do their jobs professionally, without interference or negative comments.
When asked about Akhtar's aspirations to become the chairman of the PCB, Raja advised him to first complete his graduation before pursuing such goals.
Raja's criticism of Akhtar's comments highlights the need for Pakistani former cricketers to be more supportive of current cricketers and refrain from making negative comments that can harm the reputation of Pakistani cricket.
