PCB responds to Ramiz Raja's allegations of confiscating his personal belongings by new management

Ramiz Raja (Source: Twitter)

After being removed as the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Ramiz Raja shared his ordeal with his fans in an hour-long online session and criticised the new regime. He lashed out at the new PCB chief, Najam Sethi and also made strong revelations about the ill-treatment he faced the next morning after the announcement.

In a video available on his YouTube channel, Raja said: “Aisa inhone hamla kiya cricket board mein aake. Mera saman bhi nahi lene diya inlogo ne. Subah yeh 9 baje, 17 bande dhandate fir rahe they cricket board mein. Jaise ki koi FIA ka chapa par gaya." (They way they attacked the cricket board. They didn't even let me take my stuff. Early morning at 9 around 17 guys stormed at the office, which felt as if the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan has raided the office).

The PCB has taken note of Raja's explosive comments and also issued a clarification on the matter related to him not being allowed to collect his stuff from the office. Salman Naseer, the chief operating officer of PCB, in a tweet posted midnight confirmed that all his belongings were collected by him and is kept safely at the PCB custody. His belongings will be returned as part of the usual handing-over process.

All belongings of @iramizraja were collected by me as COO of @TheRealPCB prior to arrival of @najamsethi on the morning of being notified and have been safely kept in PCB custody and will ofcourse be returned as a part of usual handing over/taking over process

— Salman Naseer (@salnaseer) December 26, 2022

Ramiz Raja was removed following Pakistan's 3-0 whitewash by England at home

Raja held the position of PCB chairman for 15 months after being appointed by former Prime Minister and Pakistan's World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan in September 2021. The decision to sack him was taken by the country's government following Pakistan's disappointing outing in the recently-concluded Test series against England, which they lost 0-3. It was for the first time ever that Pakistan got whitewashed at their home in Tests and it was also for the first time that they lost four consecutive Tests at home.

During his short stint, Pakistan had a successful run in white-ball cricket as they reached the semifinals and finals of the 20-20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022 respectively. They also reached the finals of the Asia Cup 2022, where they also defeated India at the Super 4 stage.