Ramiz Raja credits Babar Azam’s leadership for Pakistan's stellar show in 2021

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja was effusive in praise for the team’s stunning display in 2021. The Babar Azam-led team had a stellar run in T20Is, winning 20 matches. Pakistan also managed to beat India for the first time in 20-20 World Cups and also reached the semifinals of the showpiece event. Raja credited Azam’s authority, leadership, and positive influence for the team’s success.

Advertisment

During the 67th meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG), Raja also hailed interim head coach Saqlain Mushtaq, batting coach Matthew Hayden, and bowling coach Vernon Philander for their contributions.

The former Pakistan captain feels the trio was able to maintain a relaxed and calm atmosphere due to which Pakistan did well in the showpiece event. The board members were also happy with the performance of the Azam-led team. They felt the team managed to come close to meeting the expectations of their fans in the last quarter of 2021 by showing grit, determination, and character.

During the meeting, a detailed discussion was also held on managing players’ workload. The BoG requested the PCB management to look out for solutions to keep the players fresh and fit in the longer run.

Advertisment

Pakistan were last seen playing against West Indies in a three-match T20I series. Three ODIs were also due to be played in the series but amidst the rising cases of COVID-19, they were postponed. The West Indies are slated to return to Pakistan in June 2022 to complete the series.