Ramiz Raja has been elected as the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on September 13 following a meeting of the PCB's Board of Governors in Lahore. Raja, a former Pakistan captain, has been elected "unanimously and unopposed" as per the press release shared by the PCB.
Raja extended his gratitude to the members of the board for his election and stated that he will aim to start his journey as PCB chairman with the mission of bringing back the old “culture, mindset, attitude and approach” that he said made Pakistan a tough side to beat at the international level.
“One of my key focuses will be to help introduce in the Pakistan men’s cricket team the same culture, mindset, attitude and approach that once made Pakistan one of the most feared cricket playing nations,” Raja was quoted as telling the other board members in a PCB press release.
“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."
There were words of discontent in Pakistan cricket over the elevation of Raza as his relations with some of the former and current players have not been great in the recent past. He has had a verbal altercation with Mohammad Hafeez while his relationship with Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis was also not great.
The duo left their coaching role with the Pakistan side and as soon as Raja took the chairmanship, he has appointed Matthew Hayden and Vernon Philander as coaches of the national teams before the ICC World T20 due later next month.