KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday threatened to take legal action against Ramiz Raja after a war of words erupted between the board’s new executive committee and the former chairman following his unceremonious departure.
Last Thursday, Raja was removed from his post pcb president of the country’s government, who appointed a 14-member committee, led by Najam Sethi, to manage the affairs of the game for the next four months.
Following his dismissal, Raja alleged that he was not even allowed to remove his business from the council office after the government suspended the constitution.
“Najam Sethi tweets at 2 p.m. that Ramiz Raja is out. Is this respect for a former captain? I wasn’t even allowed to go to the office and get my stuff,” Ramiz said on his channel on Monday. Youtube.
“The morning after my departure was announced, there were about 17 people running through all the PCB offices as if they owned them.
“It was like I had committed a crime and I was taking evidence against me in my office. What is tamasha? These people just came for fun and publicity …they don’t know anything about cricket.”
The former hitter added that nothing good should be expected for pakistani cricket with the new committee in power.
“What happened to me is just political victimization and a vendetta just because I was nominated by the opposition party although I have no political ties to anyone. I have been appointed on the basis of my cricketing and administrative qualifications.”
Ramiz said the committee is making decisions that will ultimately destroy the environment in Pakistan’s dressing room.
He also talked about the difference in expenses he incurred on the board as chairman and how much Sethi had spent as chairman in the past.
“These people don’t know anything about cricket, they just came for the glory and the spotlight. I am bitter and frustrated because I was not allowed to complete my three-year term and all my plans for the betterment of the cricket. Pakistani cricket were demolished just to house one person.”
Sethi and the committee were clearly offended by Ramiz’s remarks and issued a statement, insisting they reserved the right to take legal action against the former captain over his allegations.
The statement said Ramiz’s comparison of his spending to that of the current president during his previous term is misleading and inaccurate because the circumstances are incomparable.
According to the PCB, Sethi’s expenses were higher as he had to travel abroad a lot as the Pakistan Super League and international matches were held in the United Arab Emirates.
“The Pakistan Super League from 2016 to 2018 was held overseas involving numerous visits to the UAE to stage the marquee tournament. However, no PSL compensation was ever paid to the current president. Sethi and this information was simply presented as potential to pay.
“In contrast, PSL 2022 was held under former President Mr. Raja and was held only in Karachi and Lahore.
“Overseas tour fees are high for the current Chairman, Mr. Sethi, as during his previous tenure, PSL and Pakistan international home matches were played outside Pakistan.
“Therefore, the current President was required to travel frequently to the UAE for PSL and Bilateral series and related meetings. All travel expenses were approved by the relevant authorities and were duly audited (internally and externally).”
The statement also claimed that “the car allowance was paid to the current President, Mr. Sethi, in accordance with the approval of the Board of Governors, as he had used his personal armored vehicle due to security threats.
“On the contrary, the PCB provided the former President, Mr. Raja, with a brand new armored vehicle at a cost of Rs 16.5 million.
“The security expenditure of the current President, Mr. Sethi, was high due to the additional security that had to be provided to him as he was a former Chief Minister of Punjab Province and the Punjab Intelligence Bureau and Special Branch issued him a threatening notice.”
The PCB also said that they never stopped Ramiz from entering the stadium and that his belongings would be returned to him on Wednesday and he was always welcome at the stadium.
Last Thursday, Raja was removed from his post pcb president of the country’s government, who appointed a 14-member committee, led by Najam Sethi, to manage the affairs of the game for the next four months.
Following his dismissal, Raja alleged that he was not even allowed to remove his business from the council office after the government suspended the constitution.
“Najam Sethi tweets at 2 p.m. that Ramiz Raja is out. Is this respect for a former captain? I wasn’t even allowed to go to the office and get my stuff,” Ramiz said on his channel on Monday. Youtube.
“The morning after my departure was announced, there were about 17 people running through all the PCB offices as if they owned them.
“It was like I had committed a crime and I was taking evidence against me in my office. What is tamasha? These people just came for fun and publicity …they don’t know anything about cricket.”
The former hitter added that nothing good should be expected for pakistani cricket with the new committee in power.
“What happened to me is just political victimization and a vendetta just because I was nominated by the opposition party although I have no political ties to anyone. I have been appointed on the basis of my cricketing and administrative qualifications.”
Ramiz said the committee is making decisions that will ultimately destroy the environment in Pakistan’s dressing room.
He also talked about the difference in expenses he incurred on the board as chairman and how much Sethi had spent as chairman in the past.
“These people don’t know anything about cricket, they just came for the glory and the spotlight. I am bitter and frustrated because I was not allowed to complete my three-year term and all my plans for the betterment of the cricket. Pakistani cricket were demolished just to house one person.”
Sethi and the committee were clearly offended by Ramiz’s remarks and issued a statement, insisting they reserved the right to take legal action against the former captain over his allegations.
The statement said Ramiz’s comparison of his spending to that of the current president during his previous term is misleading and inaccurate because the circumstances are incomparable.
According to the PCB, Sethi’s expenses were higher as he had to travel abroad a lot as the Pakistan Super League and international matches were held in the United Arab Emirates.
“The Pakistan Super League from 2016 to 2018 was held overseas involving numerous visits to the UAE to stage the marquee tournament. However, no PSL compensation was ever paid to the current president. Sethi and this information was simply presented as potential to pay.
“In contrast, PSL 2022 was held under former President Mr. Raja and was held only in Karachi and Lahore.
“Overseas tour fees are high for the current Chairman, Mr. Sethi, as during his previous tenure, PSL and Pakistan international home matches were played outside Pakistan.
“Therefore, the current President was required to travel frequently to the UAE for PSL and Bilateral series and related meetings. All travel expenses were approved by the relevant authorities and were duly audited (internally and externally).”
The statement also claimed that “the car allowance was paid to the current President, Mr. Sethi, in accordance with the approval of the Board of Governors, as he had used his personal armored vehicle due to security threats.
“On the contrary, the PCB provided the former President, Mr. Raja, with a brand new armored vehicle at a cost of Rs 16.5 million.
“The security expenditure of the current President, Mr. Sethi, was high due to the additional security that had to be provided to him as he was a former Chief Minister of Punjab Province and the Punjab Intelligence Bureau and Special Branch issued him a threatening notice.”
The PCB also said that they never stopped Ramiz from entering the stadium and that his belongings would be returned to him on Wednesday and he was always welcome at the stadium.
