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Tag: Ramiz Raja

  • Imran Khan wrote THIS legendary cricketer’s name on a pillow, punched it hard after India loss

    Imran Khan wrote THIS legendary cricketer’s name on a pillow, punched it hard after India loss

    Former cricketer and ex-Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has said that Imran Khan wrote a legendary cricketer’s name on the pillow and punched it hard when the latter got out against India, leading Pakistan to lose a One Day International (ODI) match. 

    “We played six ODIs and won five of them in India. We lost [a] match when Abdul Qadir got out [at the moment] when the score was level,” he said while appearing on a private media outlet on Wednesday, adding that, despite the match being tied, India won as Pakistan lost more wickets than India.

    Raja said Khan told Abdul Qadir, “I wrote your name on the pillow and punched it hard,” leaving the host in stitches.

    He was referring to Pakistan’s visit to India in 1987, when both teams played six ODIs. Pakistan lost only one match, played on March 20 in Hyderabad, with a score of 212/7. Despite the match being tied, India won, as it had lost only six wickets.

    In that series, Abdul Qadir was the second-highest wicket-taker (eight). Meanwhile, Javed Miandad was the leading scorer with 229 runs.

    Responding to the Indian media reports suggesting that if India wins the final of the Asia Cup 2025, the team perhaps would not take the winning trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Raja described the idea as “meaningless” and went on to say that he has no idea about such a development.

    Ramiz Raja’s remarks came in the backdrop of September 14’s Pakistan-India clash in the Men’s Asia Cup in Dubai, when the former lost by seven wickets.

    Pakistan will face India again on September 21, as both teams have qualified for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.

  • VIDEO: Mohsin Naqvi welcomes Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, Ramiz Raja at Gaddafi inauguration

    VIDEO: Mohsin Naqvi welcomes Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, Ramiz Raja at Gaddafi inauguration

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed his gratitude and honour as three former PCB chairmen, Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, and Ramiz Raja, attended the inauguration ceremony of the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 7, 2025. 

    Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mohsin Naqvi shared his appreciation, stating, “I was deeply honoured to have three former PCB Chairmen—Mr. Najam Sethi, Mr. Zaka Ashraf, and Mr. Ramiz Raja graced the inauguration ceremony of the newly built Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Their presence added immense value to this special occasion. Thank you all for your support!”

    The inauguration ceremony saw a grand celebration featuring musical performances by renowned artists Arif Lohat, Aima Baig and Ali Zafar, a spectacular fireworks display, and a showcase of the stadium’s new state-of-the-art facilities. 

    The PCB completed the renovations in record time, introducing upgraded seating, modern hospitality boxes, improved floodlights, and enhanced infrastructure to meet international standards. With the Champions Trophy 2025 set to take place in Pakistan, the revamped Gaddafi Stadium is expected to host key matches, including a semi-final. 

    As Pakistan prepares to welcome the world for the Champions Trophy, the newly built Gaddafi Stadium stands as a testament to the PCB’s commitment to excellence and the unwavering support of its past and present leadership.

    Mohsin Naqvi has also announced the construction of a new cricket stadium in the capital city, Islamabad.

    Speaking informally to journalists after a PCB selection committee meeting, Naqvi said, “A new stadium will be built in the scenic location of Islamabad, while the National Cricket Academy in Lahore will be upgraded.”

    He further revealed plans for a five-star hotel in Lahore, stating, “There is also a plan to build a five-star hotel in Lahore within a year.”

    Talking about cricket fans travelling for matches, he shared, “We have discussed visa arrangements with the UAE government. Anyone who has a ticket will definitely get a visa. We will also talk to PIA about chartered flights.”

    Earlier, the PCB chairman also discussed the selection of national players during the meeting.

  • From flops to TV stardom: Waseem Abbas opens up about 18 failed films

    From flops to TV stardom: Waseem Abbas opens up about 18 failed films

    Veteran actor Waseem Abbas is one of the most successful actors to have made a name for himself in TV dramas, films and theater. But it wasn’t always like this.

    During an appearance as a guest on Showtime with Ramiz Raja, Abbas shared a story about his film career, revealing that 18 of his films flopped.

    Ramiz Raja asked “So your track record in films is also quite something. We’ve heard that out of 19 films, 18 were flops.”

    Waseem Abbas replied, “Out of 19, 18 didn’t work. When my film would flop, and I would be sitting in the studio because we had our own production house, I wasn’t cast by my own production house. I used to tell my father, I don’t want to work in this, and he would ask, ‘Why?’ I would reply, ‘Because the film will fail.’ So, when a producer would come to sign me, I would look at his face and think, ‘Why has he come here? I’ve already given 15 flops, and now he’s back again?’ Then, when the film would be released, I’d ask, ‘Why isn’t that guy showing up at the studio?’ and they’d say, ‘He’s left.’”

  • ‘Grace is a quality few have’: Indian designer Masaba Gupta shuts down Ramiz Raja over racism

    ‘Grace is a quality few have’: Indian designer Masaba Gupta shuts down Ramiz Raja over racism

    Pakistani commentator and former cricketer Ramiz Raja landed in a storm of controversy when a viral video showed him laughing at a racist joke about West Indies cricketer Sir Viv Richards and his former partner actress Neena Gupta.

    The clip was from Cricket Mastiyan on Suno News HD where Ramiz was seen laughing about a racist joke regarding Vivian’s skin color. One of the hosts said: “I do watch cricket matches and my heart broke when Vivian Richards went into a relationship with Neena Gupta. I wrote a couplet then. ‘Jo ladkiyan khud ko kehti hain malika-e-aliya, Unko fir milta hai Mr Kaliya.’”

    The couple’s daughter, fashion designer Masaba Gupta slammed Ramiz, calling him out in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter)

    “Dear Ramiz Raja (sir) grace is a quality few have. My father, mother, and I have it in spades. You have none. Sickening to see you laugh on national TV in Pakistan at something the world stopped laughing at about 30 years back. Step into the future. All 3 of us are here with our chin up.”

    Sharing her tweet on her Instagram account, Masaba wrote she will never stop calling out those who target her mother with racist comments.

    “It’s nearly 2024 – no matter who you are I will call you out on racism and shaming my mother on television. Won’t have it. That is still my fight.”

    The incident follows the scandal of former cricketer Abdul Razzaq who was slammed for a misogynistic comment about Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai during a panel. Shahid Afridi, sitting next to Razzaq, laughed at the distasteful comment.

    Razzaq has since issued an apology.

    Social media users applauded Masaba for calling out sexist behavior, and slammed Pakistani cricket players for using women as punching bags to score points.

  • ‘Is he mentally stable or not’: Ramiz Raja slams Sethi’s proposal for England to be Asia Cup host

    ‘Is he mentally stable or not’: Ramiz Raja slams Sethi’s proposal for England to be Asia Cup host

    Former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has slammed current head of the Board, Najam Sethi, on the issue of Asia Cup 2023 hosting country.

    Sethi is trying to solve the Asia Cup hosting issue amicably with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Jay Shah, President of ACC and also Secretary of BCCI, has been accused of being biased and creating hurdles for Pakistan’s hosting rights of Asia Cup.
    “England could be a possibility as a venue for the Asia Cup,” Sethi said in an interview with BBC.

    Ramiz Raja expressed anger on the statement, raising questions about the mental health of the PCB chairman. “The whole purpose of Asia Cup right before the World Cup is to let the teams get used to Asian conditions.

    I was shocked to hear the Chairman PCB saying it would be great to see the Asia Cup being played at Lord’s. Is he mentally stable or not?” Raja questioned.

    Raja also said that it makes him angry when the chairman is saying that Pakistan Super League (PSL 9) will be conducted in UAE because of taxation issues in Pakistan.


    “On one side you are saying Pakistan is safe for cricket regarding Asia Cup and on the other hand you are saying PSL 9 will be conducted in UAE, what type of perspective are you trying to give, are you out of your mind,” Ramiz Raja asked.

    Former cricketer Salman Butt also took a dig on Sethi’s statement of hosting Asia Cup in England:
    “A neutral venue like this [England] is not viable for Asia Cup, it will not make sense as it will mean that there is not a single venue in Asia where it could be held.”
    “You can include England in it and make it Euro-Asia Cup. You can also give this suggestion. In the past, Austral-Asia Cup used to take place in which Australia participated.

    You can also include Ireland and Netherlands in it. It would be a World Cup-like event, as it will have six teams from Asia and four countries from Europe, so it will be a ten-team tournament. It will be a dress rehearsal for World Cup,” the former Pakistan opener said.

    He also added, “You can come up with as many ideas as possible but you also have to see what is practically possible.”

  • ICC rescinds ‘below average’ rating for Rawalpindi pitch

    ICC rescinds ‘below average’ rating for Rawalpindi pitch

    The Rawalpindi pitch’s demerit point after the ICC World Test Championship series between Pakistan and England’s first game has now been rescinded.

    Following a Pakistan Cricket Board appeal, the decision was made. After the first Test of the series in early December, the pitch grade at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was deemed to be “below average.”

    England won the Test by 74 runs after some exciting batting. The pitch was later described as “embarrassing” by PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja, and Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees agreed.

    “It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler,” Pycroft said. “That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals. 

    “The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match. Since there was very little in it for the bowlers, I found the pitch to be ‘below average’ as per the ICC guidelines.”

    The ICC appeal panel, however, came to the unanimous conclusion that the pitch had some “redeeming features” after studying the Test Match film, including the fact that a result was feasible and that 37 out of 39 wickets were taken.

    The appeal panel concluded that the pitch did not deserve the “below average” grade it had previously received.

    The venue had previously faced the possibility of having its right to hold international cricket matches suspended due to the number of demerit points it had received.

  • Ramiz Out: PM approves Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman PCB

    Ramiz Out: PM approves Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman PCB

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has approved Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Geo News has reported.


    The official notification of the appointment will be issued later.

    Najam Sethi served in 2013 as head of PCB. However, he faced a legal battle with Chaudhry Muhammad Zaka Ashraf, another former chairperson of PCB. He later took up the position again in 2014 but Shahryar Khan replaced him and Sethi was given the charge of the executive committee.

    In 2017, he was appointed again as PCB chairperson but after one year he soon gave up his position in 2018.

    Najam Sethi was the person who launched the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2016 and was the president of PSL at that time.


    This is a developing story.

  • Ramiz adamant that Asia Cup will not be held on neutral venue

    Ramiz adamant that Asia Cup will not be held on neutral venue

    Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja, has said that the Asia Cup will not be held at a neutral venue.


    “India is not coming, I can understand. But to take the Asia Cup away from us is not right. There’s no reason why India can’t c

    ome to Pakistan and Pakistan go to India,” he said.


    Raja also urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other top cricket nations to adopt a fair stance rather than staying quiet on important matters.

    “I think the ICC have got to think more out of the box. I’m not just looking at India and Pakistan, but the England Cricket Board and Australian Cricket Board, neutral boards who have held important positions who can be fair regarding an issue. But when they keep quiet it frustrates me completely,” he stated.

    “You have to be emotionally engaged in our concerns. If somebody crosses the line they need to be told and not brushed under the carpet,” he stressed.
    Earlier, Ramiz said Pakistan will boycott the ICC World Cup 2023 if India refuses to visit Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup.

  • Will boycott ICC World Cup 2023 in India if it refuses to come to Pakistan for Asia Cup: Ramiz Raja

    Will boycott ICC World Cup 2023 in India if it refuses to come to Pakistan for Asia Cup: Ramiz Raja

    Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja, has said that Pakistan will boycott the ICC World Cup 2023 if India refuses to visit Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup.


    “Who will watch the World Cup in India without Pakistan?” Raja. “We are very clear, if they don’t come to play in the Asia Cup here, we won’t go there for the World Cup,” the PCB chief added.


    Earlier, this year in October, Jay Shah, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president who is also secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year.

    “The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue,” Shah told the media after a BCCI annual general meeting. “It’s the government which decides the permission of our team visiting Pakistan so we won’t comment on that but for the 2023 Asia Cup, it is decided that the tournament will be held at a neutral venue.”

    “I am saying this as ACC President. We [India] can’t go there [to Pakistan], they can’t come here. In the past also, the Asia Cup has been played at a neutral venue,” he said.
    Prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup in India, which is slated for October and November 2023, Pakistan will host the 50-over Asia Cup. India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup .

  • PCB finalises schedule for PSL8 without consulting franchises

    PCB finalises schedule for PSL8 without consulting franchises

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalised the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) schedule without consulting the franchises, states Geo News’ sources.

    “There was no discussion between franchises and the PSL management regarding the schedule but despite that, it was finalised,” the franchises were quoted as saying by the sources.

    PSL8 will be held between February 15 and March 31, 2023. The venue has also been finalised as the tournament will take place in four cities of Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.

    Before the start of the league, international cricket teams — New Zealand and West Indies will visit Pakistan in January 2023.

    It is pertinent to mention that some media reports suggest that the new federal government decided to remove the current Chairman of PCB Ramiz Raja from his position.