Ramiz Raja, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), questions why Pakistan played their first match of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand and not against Bangladesh, after Pakistan’s crushing defeat against India in a high-voltage encounter in Dubai. Following Pakistan’s big loss against India, which overshadowed their title defence, Ramiz questioned the overall strategy of the team. “I wonder why Pakistan played their first match against New Zealand. They should have played against Bangladesh first. Bangladesh will give a tough fight; however, [it’s] somewhat easier match for Pakistan,” Ramiz said in his YouTube address.
Ramiz believes that if they had played Bangladesh first, the burden would have been equal for both teams in Group A, and because of that early win, New Zealand had a head start. Pakistan’s defeat to New Zealand only raised the flak, already worsened by their loss to India.
The plunge Pakistan took in the process of facing New Zealand brought a sense of further importance to their now high-octane clash against arch-rival India.
Pakistan needed victory to determine their fate in the Champions Trophy, but the men in green were no match for the mighty India side, succumbing to a six-wicket loss.
“They played against them in the opener and lost. That put Pakistan under pressure. I don’t see why Pakistan didn’t face either Bangladesh or India first. That would have put equal pressure on them,” he added.
In the high-octane encounter, of the Pakistan arch-rival India falling in danger of defending their title, it was none other than the chase-master Virat Kohli who led with a blistering hand, forcing Pakistan to tango with a plan they could not defuse.
He worked out the perfect rendezvous for chasing down the 242-run target and executed it to perfection. He smashed his 51st ODI century while leading India over the finishing line and became the quickest to reach 14,000 ODI runs.
A magnificent straight shot took the king of runs to the boundary and celebrated his century not out and a six-wicket victory for India with a couple of overs to spare.
“Virat’s innings had everything. It was calm and attacking, and he was running at slick speed. Overall, Virat Kohli was a complete package. He constantly challenges himself and plays with confidence against each and every bowler; it’s not easy for anyone to settle down,” Ramiz said.
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