Ramiz Raja floats a strange 'Schedule Theory' behind Pakistan's Champions Trophy exit; gets belt treatment
Published - 25 Feb 2025, 01:15 PM | Updated - 25 Feb 2025, 01:25 PM
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja questioned the Mohammad Rizwan-led team's strategy after their elimination from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Ramiz Raja said that the Men in Green should have faced Bangladesh in their opening match of the ongoing Champions Trophy instead of New Zealand.
Pakistan were officially knocked out of the semifinal race after New Zealand defeated Bangladesh in the Group A match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, February 24. Bangladesh and Pakistan, who are yet to open their account, won't finish in the top two even with a victory in the next match.
Pakistan Should Have Played Their First Match Against Bangladesh - Ramiz Raja
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Ramiz Speaks, Ramiz Raja opened up about the team's poor performance in the Champions Trophy. He questioned why Pakistan started their campaign against New Zealand instead of Bangladesh.
"I wonder why Pakistan played their first match against New Zealand. They should have played their first match against Bangladesh. Even though Bangladesh is a strong side, it was still comparatively an easy match for them," Ramiz said [via Hindustan Times].
The Men in Green began their campaign with a 60-run loss against New Zealand in Karachi. They were under immense pressure ahead of their crucial clash against India. This pressure was evident in their performance, as they suffered a six-wicket defeat against their arch-rivals in Dubai on February 23.
The Defeat Created Pressure on Pakistan - Ramiz Raja
Ramiz Raja stated that the loss to the Blackcaps in the opening match increased the pressure on Pakistan. The former cricketer added that if Pakistan had played Bangladesh or India first, the pressure dynamics would have been different.
"They played against them in the opener and lost. The defeat created pressure on Pakistan. I don't understand why Pakistan didn't play their first match against Bangladesh or India. If that happened, the pressure would be equal," he added.
Pakistan exited early from the tournament just five days after it began. They will take on Bangladesh in their final Group A match in Rawalpindi on February 27. However, this match will have no impact on the standings.
Virat Kohli Was a Complete Package - Ramiz Raja
In the same video, the 62-year-old lauded Virat Kohli for his match-winning century against Pakistan. Ramiz said that Kohli can balance calmness with aggression to dominate the opposition. He described Kohli as a complete package who consistently challenges himself.
"Virat's knock had everything. There was calmness and attack. He maintained the pace well. Overall, Virat Kohli was a complete package. He keeps on challenging himself. He played confidently against every bowler and didn't allow anyone to settle," Ramiz said.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls while chasing 242. India lost captain Rohit Sharma early, but Kohli guided his team to a six-wicket victory. The win was India's sixth consecutive ODI victory over Pakistan.
He scored his 51st ODI century and fourth against Pakistan. During his innings, Kohli also surpassed 14,000 ODI runs, becoming only the third player to achieve the feat after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
