Former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja lambasted the Pakistan cricket team after they succumbed to a 52 runs defeat at the hands of a second-string English side led by Ben Stokes. After getting annihilated in the opening encounter, Pakistan made a better account of themselves especially with the ball in hand. However, when it came to batting, they folded out like a pack of cards handling the hosts a comfortable victory.
“If you map this series defeat on the Richter scale, the value of shock will clock fifteen. It’s a massive blow and I don't understand how one can defend it. It’s England’s No.2 team, in terms of talent,” Raja said in his latest YouTube video.
For the second time in succession, Pakistan suffered a collapse of epic proportions. After bowling out England for 247 in less than 46 overs, Pakistan was never in the run-chase losing wickets on a consistent basis. Saud Shakeel scored his maiden ODI fifty but that wasn’t enough to get Pakistan over the finishing line.
Just ahead of the series, England was forced to name a new-look squad as the whole squad slated to play against Pakistan was forced to self-isolate themselves after three players and four support staff tested positive for COVID-19.
“If you take out Ben Stokes, not a single player of the team that defeated Pakistan would get selected in England’s regular team in near future. We are talking about a glorified county team that has beaten Pakistan.
People underestimated them and hoped for an ODI series win in England. But look how the tables have turned that now Pakistan are under the threat of a whitewash,” Raja said.
"The performance isn’t defendable. If the alarm bells don’t ring now, I don’t know when they will. It’s a World Cup year, though it’s a T20 World Cup, and such headlines are unbearable Pakistan fans,” the former Pakistan skipper concluded.