Sports

Excluding Yasir Shah a big mistake, says Ramiz Raja

Says pressure will be on Australia in the quarter-finals; Pakistan needs Younus Khan in Tests

Web Desk March 16, 2015

“If you do not use a leg spinner in a match against Australia then when will you use him,”? asks Ramiz Raja. PHOTO: TMN/FILE

Former Test cricketer Ramiz Raja said Pakistan made a big mistake by not including Sarfraz Ahmed in the initial matches and now they are doing the same with Yasir Shah.

“They should have played Sarfraz Ahmed a while ago,” he told BBC Urdu.

Raja said in the match against Australia if Sarfraz can play a big innings then Pakistan will benefit greatly.

“I am disappointed with team management for including leg spinner Yasir Shah in the match against India but not in other matches,” he said, adding that Yasir Shah takes wickets and such a bowler is needed.

The former cricketer argued that the team should have played Shah against Ireland, as Irish batsmen are weak against spinners.

Raja pressed Pakistan to include Shah in the team in the quarter-finals against Australia.

“If you do not use a leg spinner in a match against Australia then when will you use him,”? he said.

He was of the view that Pakistan reached the quarter-finals after taking an unnecessary pressure; they could have won against West Indies and wouldn’t have had to face Australia.

However, adds Raja, pressure in Adelaide will be on the host team.

“It’s Australia’s home ground. It’s tough for Pakistan but the pressure will be on Australia,” he said. “Teams are scared of Pakistan’s bowling.”

Raja said that if Pakistani batsmen could face Michael Stark, they can score well in the next 40 overs.

‘Pulling out Younis Khan unfair’

The cricketer-turned-commentator also feels that not having Younis Khan against Ireland was unfair.

Read: Retirement news is false: Younus Khan

“If a senior player is not selected then he should understand it is the end of his career,” he said. “Pakistan needs him in Test but one day he needs to decide for himself.”

COMMENTS (6)

Ganesh | 9 years ago | Reply Hi All, Wishes from India. I would partially agree with Ramez Raja's comments. Pak shouldnt have included Yasir against India. Also, they should not include him against Australia. Yasir is already under pressure, Australians will surely hit him all over the park. Also, most importantly he is very poor on the field. He will surely misfield and drop crucial catches to add pressure to the fellow teammates. He should have been played against Ireland to get some confidence. Now, he has to sit in the bench. All the best Pakistan. Strengthen your batting, even if Aus misfire they will land in 250+, you have to chase it / or score 280+ batting first.

Sahid | 9 years ago | Reply Hi, I think that this is the problem with Pakistan cricket. So called experts have no clue as to what they want and are talking about. Yasir Shah is a leg spinner and you cant have two leg spinners in one team. So its either him or Afridi in the team. Now Afridi did not get any turn off the track and didnt get any wickets though he did contain runs due to variations in his pace/length Would Yasir be able to do any better? Hard to say but its likely that he wont be able to turn the ball and definitely lacks experience to use variations. We have seen him bowl in first match and we noted that he didnt turn the ball a great deal and didn't bother the batsmen at all." Saying that a spinner who could not perform well against asian teams might still perform against non asian teams apears to be a lame excuse. A quality bowler should trouble batsmen from all countries on all tracts. If you can't, you are an average bowler but not quality. And by the way, although Sarfaraz has delivered runs, his technique is poor and he wouldnt last against good teams - but still better option amongst available ones.

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Pindi Kid | 9 years ago | Reply First, I am very disappointed hearing Ramiz Raja constantly disparaging Pakistan team during his commentary. For example he went on and on how the Pakistan victory over Ireland was not convincing and did not make a statement. It was a must win and Pakistan beat Ireland by 7 wickets - that's a great win when they had to be a little careful to ensure a birth in the Q finals. Ramiz raves about other teams and constantly puts Pakistan players down. In sharp contrast, Wasim is much more balanced in his commentary. Second, Ramiz is wrong about playing Yasir Shah against Australia. These are not spinning tracks and Afridi has struggled to take any wickets - it will be the same for Yasir. Yes, he should have played instead of Ehsan Adil against Ireland, but not against Australia when Irfan is going to be back. Irfan, Wahab, Rahat and Shoaib will be a great attack on a wicket that will be conducive. Disappointed with Ramiz's comments. He should know better. Everyone in Pakistan and abroad was calling for Sarfraz so that is nothing unique that Ramiz was offering. I would like to see more of Wasim Akram in future commentary rather than poor commentary of Ramiz.

Nasir | 9 years ago | Reply For the first time Ramiz Raja has talked commonsense. Normally he doesn't know how to do a balance commentary and what right questions to ask Pakistani Captain. I have been saying and glad that Ramiz and I hope Wasim and then Waqar Younis will pay heed that Yasir Shah needs to be played against Australia. If Irfan couldn't play in quarter final and you'll include Ehsan Adil then he'll be battered by Aussies. Afridi didn't get any wickets but contained runs. Yasir Shah is genuine spinner he will take wickets and will contain runs. If Irfan is in or out this is what team should be playing XI: Sarfaraz Ahmed Ahmed Shehzad Younis Khan Umer Akmal Misbah Ul Haq Shahid Afridi Wahab Riaz Sohail Khan Rahat Ali Irfan / Harris Sohail / Sohaib Maqsood (in case Iran is unfit to play quaterfinal). Yasir Shah This is your winning combination all they way to the Finals. If Misbah and Waqar do not want thrashing from Pakistani people they should play these elven otherwise we all are waiting to give them warm reception on the Airport if they fail to deliver!!

Mirza | 9 years ago | Reply Yasir would only be selected against India or Sri Lanka so he can be condemned as long as Afridi is occupying as a leg spinner. We need specialist spinner against the teams which are vulnerable if we want to defeat them. The inclusion of Sarfaraz has proved the selectors wrong that is why they are afraid to include Yasir. As long as Intikhab was in the team all other leg spinners were not used and the same story is repeated. Afridi and Shoaib have been great all-rounder but only against mediocre teams. The success of Sarfaraz and failure of Akmal as keeper and even batsman is too harsh to swallow.

Abid Shah | 9 years ago | Reply Rameez is right about not including YK and YS against Irish. If you have selected YK among 15 players then you should play him, especially after scoring 35+ against quality team like SA, it doesnt make sense to sit him out against Irish. Similarly, once Irfan was unfit, it doesn't make sense to not play YS, as every one knew Irish weakness against spinners. Although it will be a tough choice and unfair to play YS against Australian. Playing a youngster against a team like India and Australia and then making him sit out other matches such as Irish, UAE and Zimbabwave is like trying to set up someone for failure.

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