PAK vs ENG: Ramiz Raja Under Fire for Comments on Babar Azam

Pakistan's Test Series Leveled 1-1 with 152-run victory over England.
Raja's previous comments about the absence of star power in Pakistan's squad resurfaced, sparking backlash.
Fans on X criticized Raja's comments, highlighting the need for recognition for Pakistan's efforts and the need for a return of superstars.

Pakistan leveled the Test series 1-1 after a convincing 152-run victory, with spinner Noman Ali delivering a stellar performance, taking eight wickets in the match.

Following Pakistan's dominant win over England in the second PAK vs ENG Test, former captain and ex-chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja, faced criticism on social media for his recent comments about Babar Azam. The win, which saw Pakistan draw the series 1-1, was highlighted by Noman Ali's standout performance of eight wickets.

Noman’s remarkable 8-46, supported by Sajid Khan’s 2-93, helped dismiss England for 144 in their second innings after Pakistan set a target of 297. This marked Pakistan’s first home Test win since their victory against South Africa in February 2021.

Amid the celebrations, Raja’s earlier remarks about the absence of star power in Pakistan’s current squad resurfaced, sparking backlash. He had previously downplayed the importance of Pakistan’s players following Babar Azam’s exclusion from the squad for the remaining matches against England.

"We need to understand that Babar sells cricket for Pakistan, and there is always a debate whether it will be another failure or a comeback for him, keeping things interesting. Right now, I don’t see any sellable commodity in this Pakistan team," Raja said. "Sponsors are also cautious because Pakistan has been on a losing streak and no superstars are playing in this Test."

After the win, fans on X (formerly Twitter) criticized Raja’s comments, with one fan noting the team needed recognition for their efforts rather than focusing on sponsorship-driven stardom. The user shared a collage of key players, including Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Kamran Ghulam.

Another fan echoed former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez’s previous critique of Raja’s mindset.

Sarcastically, one user remarked, "Next Test, we need to bring back the superstar so our sponsors can be happy. Embarrassing from Pakistan" poking fun at Raja's comments.