T20 World Cup 2024: 'Players are on trial' - Ramiz Raja blasts PCB for delaying WC squad announcement

Former Pakistan cricketer and PCB chief Ramiz Raja feels that the current team looks to be stuck in figuring out the players who will play in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Ramiz Raja's statement comes a day after Pakistan defeated Ireland in the series concluding 3rd T20I in Dublin to clinch the series by 2-1. The Green Army will now cross borders to take on England for a 4-match T20I series, starting from May 22nd. Babar Azam's side have 4 matches to play against the reigning T20 champions and that could help them decide the players who will go for the WC.

At the moment, Pakistan are the only side, that are yet to announce their 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 which starts from June 1 onwards. With the T20 WC nearing, it remains to be seen when the Pakistan Cricket Board announces the squad that will challenge for their first ICC silverware since 2017.

What did Ramiz Raja say about Pakistan not picking the World Cup squad?

While speaking in his latest YouTube video, Ramiz Raja did not show any support or say any word of appreciation for the Pakistani team. Raja instead had a harsh choice of words and lashed out at the board as well for not figuring out the core group of players that will represent the nation at the 20-team T20 World Cup.

Ramiz Raja highlighted that they are the only ones out of the 20 teams that are yet to announce their squad. He questioned the PCB's approach and wanted to know where exactly they were getting stuck. The 61-year-old bashed the team management, too, for not being able to find the right team combination and for still studying the potential of the players.

"Pakistan is the only team that has yet to announce its squad for the T20 World Cup. Out of 20 teams, 19 have announced their squads. I don't understand where Pakistan are stuck. They can't handle the combinations. They are still trying to read the potential. It feels like every player is on trial," Ramiz Raja said via his latest YT video.

Raja questions the bowlers' performance and asks if every player is on trial

In the next segment of his video, Ramiz Raja asked the PCB if they had kept every player, except Babar Azam, on trial. In his view, Raja feels that indeed every player is going through a trial.

He then dropped a major bombshell statement on Pakistan's bowling line-up. After watching their performance in yesterday's 6-wicket win over Ireland, Ramiz Raja observed that incoming bowlers - Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir both had flat outings. He then asked the exact role that Abbas Afridi is trying to play in this team.

Raja mocked Afridi and also targeted opening batter Saim Ayub by saying that the former was looking totally lost just like the latter.

"Some bowlers look under pressure. Hasan Ali had a bad outing, and Mohammad Amir's performance was flat. What is the role of Abbas Afridi? He looks like Saim Ayub, a lost cause. You need to announce the World Cup squad quickly because not each player can be on trial," Ramiz Raja concluded.