Ramiz Raja vows to reset PCB's direction; says T20 squad will remain unchanged

• Ramiz Raja appoints Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South Africa’s Vernon Philander as coaches for upcoming T20 World Cup.
• Board’s performance is interlinked with team’s performance, he says.
• Any club that produces an international cricketer, PCB will bear its expenses, Ramiz Raja announces.

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ISLAMABAD: Newly elected Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja extended his thanks to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also the patron-in-chief of the cricket board, for posing confidence in his abilities.

Addressing a press conference Monday, shortly after getting elected as PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja announced he would not introduce any change in the T20 team and vowed to reset the direction of hte PCB to restore Pakistan cricket's glorious past.

The PCB chairman said he would focus on ensuring the board's policies remained consistent, adding that he would also ensure club cricket, new talent, coaching and the national cricket team's performance improved.

Ramiz Raja said he has some long-term and short-term goals to bring improvement in the Pakistani squad.

New coaches for T20 World Cup

Speaking on the occasion, the PCB chief announced that he has appointed Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South Africa’s Vernon Philander as coaches for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Promotion of school, club cricket

The newly appointed PCB chief said that the board’s performance is interlinked with the team’s performance. He said that the board will focus on school and club cricket to ensure the country keeps on producing quality cricketers. 

The PCB will bear all the expenses of any cricket club that produces an international cricketer, he announced.

“We need your support,” he urged the nation, requesting masses to avoid criticism on the board early on.

Referring to the famous Pakistani victory in the 1992 World Cup, he said young players had played a key role in the historic triumph.

“We will improve coaching techniques to surpass challenges aggressively," he added.

Suggestions sought from 1992 World Cup heroes

Speaking on the occasion, the PCB chairman sought suggestions from the 1992 World Cup heroes through which Pakistani cricket can be improved. 

Women’s cricket

The PCB chairman said that he would promote women’s cricket in the country and would take measures to scale it to new heights, saying that the nation would receive good news within the next 10 days.

Not in hurry to play cricket with India

Responding to a question, Ramiz Raja said that Pak-India cricket is not possible in the current situation, given the frosty ties between the two nations. 

"Pakistan is not in hurry to play cricket with India," he said, adding that Pakistan's cricket authorities will not beg the BCCI to allow the Indian team to play cricket with Pakistan.  

New PCB chief  vows to ensure Pakistan cricket grows stronger

Earlier today, addressing the BoG meeting following his election, Ramiz Raja had said, “I am thankful to all of you for electing me as the PCB Chairman and look forward to working with you to ensure Pakistan cricket continues to thrive and grow stronger, both on and off-the-field.”

“One of my key focuses will be to help introduce in the Pakistan men’s cricket team the same culture, mind-set, attitude and approach that once made Pakistan one of the most feared cricket playing nations,” he said.

The newly elected PCB chief said that as an organisation, we all need to get behind the national team and provide them the desired assistance and support so that they can produce that brand of cricket, which the fans also expect from them each time they step on to the field of play.

“Obviously, as a former cricketer, my other priority will be to look into the welfare of our past and present cricketers. The game has and will always be about the cricketers and, as such, they deserve more recognition and respect from their parent institution,” he added