Ramiz Raja
Ramiz Hasan Raja (Urdu: رمیز حسن راجہ; born 14 August 1962) is a Pakistani cricket commentator, YouTuber, and former cricketer who served as the 35th Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board between September 2021 and December 2022.[3] He was a part of the Pakistani squad which won the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
Ramiz Raja رميز راجہ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Raja in 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 35th Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 13 September 2021 – 21 December 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appointed by | Imran Khan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Arif Alvi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Imran Khan Shehbaz Sharif | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ehsan Mani | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Najam Sethi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Ramiz Hasan Raja 14 August 1962 Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Government College, Lahore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Former Pakistani cricketer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Legbreak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations |
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| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 99) | 2 March 1984 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 26 April 1997 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 56) | 6 February 1985 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 21 September 1997 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 31 January 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As a player, Raja represented Pakistan (sporadically as a captain) during the 1980s and the 1990s.
He also talks about cricket on his YouTube channel Ramiz Speaks.[4][5]
Early life and education edit
Raja was born in a Muhajir family. His parents had migrated from the Indian city of Jaipur, Rajasthan during Partition of India. His wife's parents also had roots in British India; his mother-in-law hailed from Delhi and his father-in-law from Karnal, Haryana.[6]
An admirer of Rajasthani architecture, he eventually asked Pakistani architect Nayyar Ali Dada to design his Lahore house on the pattern of Jaipur's Rambagh Palace.[7]
His father Saleem Akhtar was a cricketer during the British colonial era who played for Multan and Sargodha after the partition, while his brother Wasim Raja and cousin Atif Rauf played for the Pakistan national cricket team, with another brother Zaeem Raja having played first-class cricket as well.
Raja is an alumnus of Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur, Aitchison College, Lahore and Government College University, Lahore.[8][9][10]
Domestic career edit
Raja made his first-class cricket debut in 1978, scoring over 9,000 runs in List A and 10,000 runs in first class matches. He made his Test debut against England in 1984 and ODI debut against New Zealand in 1985. Raja was regarded as one of the prominent batters playing in Pakistan's domestic cricket.[11]
International career edit
Golden years edit
When he got his first opportunity to play in a Test match, against England, Raja's performance was unimpressive, as he was dismissed for 1 run in each innings. However, with the retirement of several players in the Pakistan squad and with the help of his years of experience in first-class cricket, Raja was able to secure a spot in the national side.[12]
He played international cricket for 13 years, appearing in 57 Test matches, with a career average of 31.83 and scoring two centuries. In the One Day International arena, he played 198 matches and scored 9 centuries.[13] He was a member of the national side that reached the semi-finals of the 1987 World Cup. He scored 2 centuries in the 1992 World Cup, which was held in Australia, including a century against New Zealand, who had been undefeated during that period. He was awarded the man of the match for his match winning performance which earned Pakistan a place in the semi-finals of the tournament. In the final against England, Raja had the honour of taking the final catch which won the World Cup for Pakistan. This became the pinnacle of his cricketing career, as within a year of this triumph, he had lost form and was dropped from the national side.[11][14]
Obstructing the field edit
Raja became the first player in One Day International history to be given out "obstructing the field" against England, in a match at Karachi in 1987. England had scored 263 runs for 6 wickets during their 44 over innings.[15] For Pakistan, Raja opened the batting and had reached 98 runs when the last ball of the match was bowled, with Pakistan needing 25 runs to win in the last over. During this last over, he hit the ball and sprinted for two runs that would have given him his century, but was well short of the crease when the fielder's return came towards him and Raja knocked the ball away with his bat and was given out for "obstructing the field".[16]
Late career edit
He was recalled to the Pakistan squad and played in the 1996 Cricket World Cup. During the 1995–1996 season, he was removed from the captaincy, after Pakistan lost their first home series to Sri Lanka. His final game in a Test match for Pakistan was as captain in the 1996–1997 tour of Sri Lanka, however the team failed to win a match during the series. He retired from all forms of cricket in 1997 and since then he has been active as a television commentator and as an administrator for both Pakistan and international cricket.[17][14]
Commentary career edit
Raja has worked as a commentator on Test Match Special and Sky Sports, during the 2006 England Test series against Pakistan. He has also worked as the chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, but resigned from his job in August 2004, citing increasing media commitments. He continues to provide commentary on Pakistan cricket team's tours as well as in many domestic tournaments and international ICC tournaments.[18][19]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Rameez Raja's profile on Sportskeeda
- ^ "Cricketing dynasties of 2 families".
- ^ "Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja sacked, Najam Sethi to take over PCB top job".
- ^ "Ramiz Raja formally elected as PCBchairman". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Dawn.com (13 September 2021). "Ramiz Raja elected new PCB chairman 'unanimously and unopposed'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Inzamam-ul-Haq, 28 May 1997, Outlook India. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Rameez builds his own Rajasthani palace". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "GC University Lahore produces five prime ministers of country: grand celebration to mark 148th birthday – Business Recorder". Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Happy Birthday GCU". The Nation. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Board Of Governors | Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Official Website". www.pcb.com.pk. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Pakistan lauds 'King of Entertainment' Sehwag". The Hindu. PTI. 9 December 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "Rameez Raja launches attack on Mohsin Khan". The Hindu. PTI. 28 June 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "Ramiz Raja batting bowling stats, averages and cricket statistics, 2022". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Rameez Raja Profile - Cricket Player,Pakistan|Rameez Raja Stats, Ranking, Records inCricket -NDTV Sports". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ "Full Scorecard of England vs Pakistan 2nd ODI 1987/88 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Pakistan v England 1987-88: Second One-day International". Wisden 1989. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ "11 things you need to know about Rameez Raja". Cricket Country. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ Editorial (1 May 2015). "Rameez Raja's nine hilarious commentary moments". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ Mustafi, Suvajit (30 April 2015). "Rameez Raja's nine hilarious commentary moments". DNA India. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
External links edit
- Ramiz Raja at ESPNcricinfo
- Ramiz Raja on Twitter