Raja: Pakistan Has Good Pool Of Players To Move Ahead
Former Pakistan captain and commentator Ramiz Raja has called for the retirement of Pakistan veteran batsman Shoaib Malik and all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez from the international arena.
He asked them to step down with respect and gracefully. “They should leave international cricket with respect and gracefully,” Raja said on Monday.
He was talking to the media through video conference. He said he does not make personal comments but he feels that they have served the team well and it is time they call it quits.
“I come across both during my assignments that is why I avoid making personal comments. There is no doubt both have served Pakistan cricket well all these years. But now I think it is time they gracefully retired from the Pakistan team.”
Raja said that he was speaking honestly and if they retire there is good players to fill their places. “I think if they retire now it will help Pakistan cricket. We have a good pool of players and we must move ahead,” he added.
Both Hafeez and Malik were recalled for the T20 format in February, after they were left out from the team since the completion of the world cup last year, by Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq ahead of the T20 world cup which is scheduled to begin in October this year.
The move drew criticism from many for going back to senior players for the shortest format of the game.
Hafeez To Retire After World Cup
Hafeez who is 39 and Malik 38 have maintained that they still have plenty of cricket left in them and are ready to play in the T20 world cup.
Shoaib Malik retired from both Tests and one day but is tight-lipped about the T20’s. Meanwhile, Hafeez who retired from Tests has announced that he will step down from other formats after the World Cup.
