"We can't bring Western teams in Peshawar right now": Ramiz Raja

[MenInG]

Ramiz Raja:

"We can't bring Western teams in Peshawar right now"

"But, we can assure you that soon Peshawar will get to host some PSL matches"

"Foreign players are not allowed to travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan by their countries. They are asked to stay cautious"

"PCB doesn't have its own stadium. We have to take a lease from local government every time"

"We did development work in Faisalabad Stadium which was later given to a political party for their public gathering [Jalsa]. We planned to host the Bangladesh U19 team in Faisalabad but it wasn't possible due to the poor state of the ground after political gathering"

 

[MenInG]

So this was the reason PZ Owner did not attend PSL Draft

==

Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi decided to make a silent protest and not attend the PSL 8 Draft.

Javed Afridi will also not attend the PSL Governing Council meeting. The protest is in view of the latest statements given by PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja and CEO Faisal Hasnain regarding cricket activities in Peshawar.

According to Zalmi sources, this has put a dent in their efforts to revive cricket in Peshawar. The statements have sent a negative impact about the city.

 

[Kianig89]

So this was the reason PZ Owner did not attend PSL Draft

==

Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi decided to make a silent protest and not attend the PSL 8 Draft.

Javed Afridi will also not attend the PSL Governing Council meeting. The protest is in view of the latest statements given by PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja and CEO Faisal Hasnain regarding cricket activities in Peshawar.

According to Zalmi sources, this has put a dent in their efforts to revive cricket in Peshawar. The statements have sent a negative impact about the city.

Mr. Javed Afridi has pledged to bring Foreign players to Peshawar Stadium just check his twitter, all snowballed for Rameez

 

[Zaz]

Ramiz is a motor mouth and is always putting his foot in it Someone needs to tell him its better to stay quiet than speak and put your foot in things continuously

Javed Afridi is right What kind of message is he sending out to the western world by saying the above?

 

[Markhor]

I'm by NO MEANS a Ramiz supporter and frankly the sooner he's removed from the chairmanship the better. However isn't he merely pointing out a fact here ?

It's a heavy lift asking touring teams to play internationals in Peshawar simply because of its proximity to the Afghan border and the ongoing security issues in Afghanistan.

 

[Zaz]

I'm by NO MEANS a Ramiz supporter and frankly the sooner he's removed from the chairmanship the better. However isn't he merely pointing out a fact here ?

It's a heavy lift asking touring teams to play internationals in Peshawar simply because of its proximity to the Afghan border and the ongoing security issues in Afghanistan.

surely as chairman of the pcb rather than saying anything negative he should stay quiet

Hes just derailed the efforts of javed afridi

His job isnt to state facts but get cricket back to pakistan in all its major cities and regions

 

[MenInG]

Mr. Javed Afridi has pledged to bring Foreign players to Peshawar Stadium just check his twitter, all snowballed for Rameez

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BEING A SON OF THIS SOIL, I PROMISE THE PEOPLE OF PESHAWAR & KP THAT WE WILL BRING ALL OUR FOREIGN PLAYERS TO PLAY IN ARBAB NIAZ CRICKET STADIUM. <a href="https://t.co/McWO8YPBGZ">pic.twitter.com/McWO8YPBGZ</a></p>— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) <a href="https://twitter.com/JAfridi10/status/1603712415375691776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Kianig89]

Being head of cricket board it was Ramiz job to keep all stakeholders in loop, either you convince JA or you support him, making statements in media only made it a chronic issue which Ramiz is unable to handle amicably, henceforth public embarrassment add to it the power of
qussy has lured Prime Minister to replace the current chairman

 

[Rana]

Peshawar is an electric venue with electrifying fans

It can be the Dortmund of Pakistan one day IA

 

[Rana]

I still cannot forget Tendulkar’s sixes to Arshad Khan in Peshawar. Great hundred he scored here once

 

[Kianig89]

Peshawar is an electric venue with electrifying fans

It can be the Dortmund of Pakistan one day IA

You mean Westfalenstadion

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Pakistan's best ground?. But in such a state of neglect!

 

[topspin]

Terrible use of words. Doesn't inspire any confidence whatsoever for the future of international cricket in Peshawar.

The sooner we get him replaced by Najam Sethi the better it will be for Pakistan cricket.

 

[msb314]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BEING A SON OF THIS SOIL, I PROMISE THE PEOPLE OF PESHAWAR & KP THAT WE WILL BRING ALL OUR FOREIGN PLAYERS TO PLAY IN ARBAB NIAZ CRICKET STADIUM. <a href="https://t.co/McWO8YPBGZ">pic.twitter.com/McWO8YPBGZ</a></p>— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) <a href="https://twitter.com/JAfridi10/status/1603712415375691776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is the issue [MENTION=93712]MenInG[/MENTION]

Javed Afridi is a private investor and has no influence / decision making power on the security situation in KPK nor can he alter the travel advisories to the region by other countries..

Ramiz is absolutely right and these “protests” by Javed are meaningless as a result

 

[msb314]

"Peshawar is a no go for western teams currently"? You feel this is an acceptable response from a chairman

In this day and age that is the headline foreign media will potray

Hardly fills people looking in from the outside with confidence about pakistan and peshwar in paticularly

Terrible use of words. Doesn't inspire any confidence whatsoever for the future of international cricket in Peshawar.

The sooner we get him replaced by Najam Sethi the better it will be for Pakistan cricket.

Doesn’t matter what Ramiz says but the facts are there for everyone to see.

KPK is still a no go in travel advisories from most countries so foreign players / cricket boards will not issue NOC’s as a result of PSL matches are held in Peshawar

 

[The_KING]

Peshawar shouldn't host any matches for another decade, at least.

 

[BreadPakoda]

So BD / SL will still be expected to play in Peshawar? Why such special treatment for the western (aka white) teams?

 

[MenInG]

PCB are very weary of any security issue - one issue and the whole PSL International tours could end

 

[topspin]

Doesn’t matter what Ramiz says but the facts are there for everyone to see.

KPK is still a no go in travel advisories from most countries so foreign players / cricket boards will not issue NOC’s as a result of PSL matches are held in Peshawar

My issue isn’t with the “facts” as I stated in my previous post it’s the use of words that’s wrong.

I shouldn’t have to explain this but when you’re giving interviews and speeches in public in the position that Ramiz occupies, you have to be measured in your words otherwise it gives a bad image of Peshawar, KPK and Pakistan in general.

I agree Peshawar is a no go for foreign sides. That really goes without saying.

 

[Markhor]

This is from the Official UK Govt website:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to:

• The districts of Baujar, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province
  
• the districts of Charsadda, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Buner and Lower Dir in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
  
• the city and district of Peshawar
  
• travel on the N45 road, from the north of the Mardan ring-road, to the edge of the district of Chitral
  
• Balochistan province, excluding the southern coast of Balochistan (see below)
  
• the section of the N35 (or Karakoram Highway) between the Mansehra ring road and the N15/N35 Chilas interchange
  
• within 10 miles of the Line of Control

 

[Savak]

PCB should host domestic cricket in the city first, then look to hold a few psl games, invite Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka there and then look to invite Western teams there. Baby steps

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

PCB should host domestic cricket in the city first, then look to hold a few psl games, invite Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka there and then look to invite Western teams there. Baby steps

All lives matter, be it pakistani , zim or Bangladesh. If PCB doesn't have confidence to hold any big event there should be any reason as PCB is aware about the security inputs fully.

Let's not mess up the entire hardwork and efforts done in last 5 years.

 

[Chip32]

Perhaps they could host a PSL game their but there will won’t be a western team touring for at least another 10 years.

This is Australia’s travel advice regarding Pakistan:

 

[boomboomcheema]

PCB should host domestic cricket in the city first, then look to hold a few psl games, invite Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka there and then look to invite Western teams there. Baby steps

Yes let's use Zimbabweans, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis as Guinea Pigs, if the tour is completed without any trouble then White Players/teams can be requested to visit also.

 

[Saj]

There has to come a time when PCB say to teams, you will play at the likes of Peshawar as that is where we want matches to be played, or don't bother coming to Pakistan.

Has to be done gradually but foreign teams cannot always dictate where they will and won't play.

 

[Chip32]

There has to come a time when PCB say to teams, you will play at the likes of Peshawar as that is where we want matches to be played, or don't bother coming to Pakistan.

Has to be done gradually but foreign teams cannot always dictate where they will and won't play.

But if governments of these respective countries have Peshawar as a no go zone (as Aus, NZ and ENG do) what can the PCB do? We would only be shooting ourselves in the foot if we say do not bother coming at all if you won’t play in Peshawar.

 

[SamNJ]

If Ramiz prepares Pindi like Pitch in Peshawar England will be happy to play there overruling any travel advisory.

 

[moghul]

Ramiz Raja:

"We can't bring Western teams in Peshawar right now"

"But, we can assure you that soon Peshawar will get to host some PSL matches"

"Foreign players are not allowed to travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan by their countries. They are asked to stay cautious"

"PCB doesn't have its own stadium. We have to take a lease from local government every time"

"We did development work in Faisalabad Stadium which was later given to a political party for their public gathering [Jalsa]. We planned to host the Bangladesh U19 team in Faisalabad but it wasn't possible due to the poor state of the ground after political gathering"

Nothing wrong with Ramiz telling the truth , don;t understand what's the problem here. Ther has been some security related issues in KP and Baluchistan lately and I'm sure things will get better but till that happens we can't blame hesitancy shown by foreign player and their boards.

 

[Major]

Could a wrong move by Javed Afridi sabotage cricket in Pakistan?

Javed Afridi has not been happy that Rameez Raja will not be having PSL matches scheduled at Peshawar. Even though, this decision is not in Rameez's hands but in the hands of the Pakistani govt. For matches to take place in Peshawar, you need to get security clearance from the govt, and Peshawar is a big security risk.

Javed Afridi was hoping that ever since Arbab Niaz Stadium got remade, Peshawar Zalmi will play there in the 2023 PSL.

Rameez Raja gave a statement recently that indicated matches wont take place there and Javed Afridi was upset with the statement that he boycotted some PSL events as well as the draft. He did not appear in person for the meetings and events and has been using his social media profiles to rile up fans that Peshawar should host games.

Now, knowing what Javed Afridi did during covid when he took Zalmi players out of the bubble to different events, he might try to pressure PCB to gets matches done in Peshawar. He might use his political links and get clearance for it from govt level.

Or

He might take his own team on a tour to Peshawar and get a friendly match schduled.

Now if some security lapse happens or an attack takes place in Peshawar, cricket in Pakistan could be banned, and the Champions trophy that we are trying to get held here, could go into jeopardy.

Will Javed Afridi do such a thing?

 

[Markhor]

But if governments of these respective countries have Peshawar as a no go zone (as Aus, NZ and ENG do) what can the PCB do? We would only be shooting ourselves in the foot if we say do not bother coming at all if you won’t play in Peshawar.

Exactly, and frankly it'll be a struggle persuading non-Western teams to visit Peshawar too. That's just reality, nothing against Peshawaris.

Again, I'm no fan of Rameez but I'm baffled at this "controversy" although it's given Javed Afridi a chance to play to the galleries with his protest.

 

[Rana]

Javed Afridi likes to think he is Sunny Deol of KPK for some reason.

He’s another Ramiz Raja. It’s all about the vanity projects for him. Needs to calm down and keep his emotions in check

When the time is right, Peshawar will be our venue!

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

KPK should be off limits for another 10 years.

 

[Saj]

Seems like some venues keep getting matches due to pressure from outside cricket also.

An age-old problem in Pakistan cricket.

 

[Savak]

Javed Afridi has not been happy that Rameez Raja will not be having PSL matches scheduled at Peshawar. Even though, this decision is not in Rameez's hands but in the hands of the Pakistani govt. For matches to take place in Peshawar, you need to get security clearance from the govt, and Peshawar is a big security risk.

Javed Afridi was hoping that ever since Arbab Niaz Stadium got remade, Peshawar Zalmi will play there in the 2023 PSL.

Rameez Raja gave a statement recently that indicated matches wont take place there and Javed Afridi was upset with the statement that he boycotted some PSL events as well as the draft. He did not appear in person for the meetings and events and has been using his social media profiles to rile up fans that Peshawar should host games.

Now, knowing what Javed Afridi did during covid when he took Zalmi players out of the bubble to different events, he might try to pressure PCB to gets matches done in Peshawar. He might use his political links and get clearance for it from govt level.

Or

He might take his own team on a tour to Peshawar and get a friendly match schduled.

Now if some security lapse happens or an attack takes place in Peshawar, cricket in Pakistan could be banned, and the Champions trophy that we are trying to get held here, could go into jeopardy.

Will Javed Afridi do such a thing?

According to some reporters, it is Javed Afridi who has been using his links in the govt to get Ramiz Raja improved. He and Ramiz have not really been on good terms and Ramiz talks very arrogantly, my way or the high way style with the PSL owners.

 

[aukhan]

These are plain facts. Why are people unhappy with his statement here? You can criticize Rameez for 1000 different reasons but what he said here is just a simple fact. The majority of the forum posters are not living in Pakistan and are unaware of the security situation in the country.

The Good Talibans are back in different parts of KPK and even taking protection money from KPK CM. If I was a Pakistani cricketer even I would have refused to go to that part of the country I would have rather played on empty grounds than put my life at risk.

 

[Muhammad Kaleem]

KPK is seeing rise of Taliban again. Policemen are being attacked by TTP in various places of KPK (including Peshawar), and Pakistan Army has started a military operation in Lakki Marwat district. KPK is definitely not safe for foreign tourists. It is very stupid of Javed Afridi to insist that Peshawar and KPK is very safe for international cricket.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ALL FOREIGN PLAYERS ARE WELCOME TO THE CITY OF FLOWERS, PESHAWAR. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeshawarCityOfFlowers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PeshawarCityOfFlowers</a> <a href="https://t.co/aJGKairVuw">pic.twitter.com/aJGKairVuw</a></p>— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) <a href="https://twitter.com/JAfridi10/status/1604333847121903616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Rana]

KPK is seeing rise of Taliban again. Policemen are being attacked by TTP in various places of KPK (including Peshawar), and Pakistan Army has started a military operation in Lakki Marwat district. KPK is definitely not safe for foreign tourists. It is very stupid of Javed Afridi to insist that Peshawar and KPK is very safe for international cricket.

It’s just another Vanity project for him

He will bring Darren Sami, Mahira Khan, Hamza Abbasi and Babar Azam to some Peshawar Zalmi concert in Peshawar and show off as if it’s the Milan of South Asia

 

[MenInG]

The problem with politicians

==

Najam Sethi in his first presser:

"Peshawar is not a red flag at all. I remember when we were bringing cricket back to Pakistan, the people in Karachi were saying that you will just have matches in Lahore and Multan. I said we will come to Karachi first."

"I had West Indies play three matches in Karachi. There's no question about going to Peshawar. The stadium is being readied, and I have received assurance that it will be completed in six months. As soon as it's ready, we will go and play cricket there."

 

[Savak]

The statement by Ramiz Raja which ****** of Javed Afridi royally and set in motion the move to remove him.

Dumb arrogant Ramiz will now hopefully learn a royal lesson to keep his mouth shut.

 

[Mamoon]

I’m late to this thread but what Ramiz said is true. However, it should not have come from the PCB Chairman & there is no doubt it played a big role in his sacking.

We need to understand that foreign players were happy to never play in Pakistan again & they are happy to never play in Peshawar again, but PCB needs to keep pushing & negotiating.

This is why we have international cricket back in Pakistan now & it will take a lot of effort to bring them to Peshawar in the near future.

The PCB Chairman claiming that it will be difficult means that he is only making it easy for teams to say no.

 

[Savak]

I’m late to this thread but what Ramiz said is true. However, it should not have come from the PCB Chairman & there is no doubt it played a big role in his sacking.

We need to understand that foreign players were happy to never play in Pakistan again & they are happy to never play in Peshawar again, but PCB needs to keep pushing & negotiating.

This is why we have international cricket back in Pakistan now & it will take a lot of effort to bring them to Peshawar in the near future.

The PCB Chairman claiming that it will be difficult means that he is only making it easy for teams to say no.

Sometimes people also have to be realistic about having a confrontational attitude, i am right, i am the boss, its my way or the highway. A lot of people in the PCB were demoralized at Ramiz's management style of do it my way or get out, i am the boss here and you will follow my orders. He had the same style, approach with the PSL Franchise owners who were not happy with his attitude towards them, his latest gaffe on Peshawar set in motion Javed Afridi's efforts behind the scenes to have him replaced.

Ramiz also ****** off a lot of commentators by influencing who could commentate, who can not commentate, what they are allowed and not allowed to talk about on air and he will not find an easy route back into the commentary box. He also now cannot make grand claims about Pakistan Cricket, its players, having to play aggressive cricket e.t.c. because his subscribers will now remind him that he was the PCB chairman and he didn't walk the talk.

Hopefully a good ego check and he's been bought down to earth by this sacking.

 

[MenInG]

The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has agreed to invite the Afghanistan squad for a cricket series in Peshawar.

Finance Minister of KP Taimur Jhagra indicated in this regard that the city is safe for foreign players; hence a match is essential to send a positive image.

Jhagra further stated that Arbab Niaz Stadium is approaching completion, while Hayatabad Cricket Stadium is ready to host matches.

https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/n...fghanistan-team-to-play-at-arbab-niaz-stadium