T20 World Cup 2024: "Imad Wasim should be..." - Ramiz Raja calls for Shadab Khan's axing

Former Pakistan cricketer and PCB chief Ramiz Raja questioned the importance and role of all-rounder Shadab Khan in the Pakistani team ahead of ICC T20 WC 2024.

Shadab Khan was among the batters in the Pakistan middle-order who flopped badly during the team's one-sided loss at the hands of Jos Buttler's England. At one point in time, the visitors were looking likely to score more than 180 runs but due to the middle-order's poor performance, the total could not even go up to 160. 

The top-order of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had given Pakistan a very good start early on but the following batters failed to ride on the momentum. The Pakistani bowlers eventually didn't have enough runs on the board to defend. The Men in Green lost the 4-match series by 2-0 and their preparation for the T20 World Cup 2024 has closed off in the worst possible way. 

What did Ramiz Raja say about Shadab Khan? 

After seeing the entire match unfold at the Kia Oval stadium, Ramiz Raja had a harsh choice of words for Shadab Khan. Ramiz started off by highlighting the middle-order's inability to score runs and claimed that it was the turning point of the game. The former PCB chairman wanted the batters to show more character.

Absolute savagery from Mark Wood 🤯#EnglandCricket | #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/zrrksjNF95

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 30, 2024

Ramiz Raja then stated that Imad Wasim, who sustained a rib injury during training, should play each and every game to balance out the side. He claimed that if the team management wants to drop Shadab Khan, then they should not even think twice before doing it as his role in the batting order is not defined. 

Raja admitted that Shadab Khan is not the right fit for the number 5 position and that the management can try out Saim Ayub there.

"The middle order was a flop show that led to the lack of runs and we lost the plot. Imad Wasim should be picked in all games. If you have to bench Shadab, do it. You can play Saim Ayub in the middle order because Shadab is not fit at No.5," Ramiz Raja said in his latest YT video. 

Ramiz Raja labels Shadab Khan as a slogger 

Ramiz Raja continued bashing Shadab Khan by saying that his original position should be at number 7 and not number 5 because he plays like a literal slogger. For the 5 position, Raja suggested having a specialist batter as that can provide more stability in the side. He also observed that Shadab looked out of touch, out of form, and totally out of place.

"If a proper batter comes in, it will bring some stability in the middle order.Shadab Khan in middle order? What is his role, I don’t get it. At No.5, he is out of touch and out of form. His ideal batting position should be No.7. He tries to play like a slogger," Ramiz Raja concluded.