Former international cricketer Ramiz Raja has hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) new management, revealing that he wasn't even allowed to collect his belongings from the cricket board's office after he was dismissed.
"The way they attacked the cricket board - they didn't even let me take my stuff. Early morning at 9, around 17 guys stormed the office, which felt as thought it was being raided by the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan," Raja said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
"The constitution has been bulldozed. It is political victimization and vendetta. There will be no excellence when there is no continuity," said Raja who has now been replaced by former federal minister Najam Sethi as head of the PCB.
Warming to his theme, Raja upped his attack on the PCB's newly appointed management, claiming that Sethi's appointment to the PCB's top post was nothing but a political move taken by the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
"It has been presented as though Sethi is a messiah who will take the game to new heights. We know what he is up to. He wants limelight at any cost. He has nothing to do with cricket, and has never lifted a bat. They have replaced me midway. In the middle of the season, they are bringing in [South African cricket coach] Mickey Arthur. Saqlain Mushtaq's tenure was ending anyway in January. Saqlain has played more than 50 Tests, he is a legend. This is no way to treat the cricketers," Raja insisted.
How Did Raja Become Pakistan Cricket Head?
Raja was appointed chairman of the PCB by Imran Khan when the latter was prime minister in September last year. His tenure was meant to last three years but he was removed after only 12 months in office.
Since his departure, the PCB has made sweeping changes to Pakistan's cricket structure, including disbanding the selection committee led by Mohammad Wasim with immediate effect and appointing a new selection panel headed by former all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Furthermore, according to the latest reports in local media, the PCB is set to sack Mushtaq as the head coach of the national team and bring back South Africa's Arthur who coached the Green Army from 2016 to 2019.
On Monday, the Pakistan cricket team dropped Mohammad Rizwan, their vice-captain, for the first Test match against New Zealand in Karachi city.
Many on social media hinted that it appeared to be a decision taken by the new PCB management because Rizwan has been an integral member of the Babar Azam-led team and is widely regarded as one of their top players.