Fri Sep 13 11:15:59 UTC 2024: ## Moin Khan Blames Ramiz Raja for Son’s Career Setback, Calls for Shaheen Afridi’s Return as Captain
**Karachi, Sep 13:** Former Pakistan Test captain Moin Khan has publicly blamed former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja for the damage he believes was done to his son Azam’s cricketing career. Moin, a former wicketkeeper-batter himself, expressed his disappointment with the way Azam was treated during the recent T20 World Cup in the Americas.
Moin argued that Azam, despite his early struggles in the tournament, should have been given more opportunities to prove himself. He criticized the quick changes to the team’s strategy and the dropping of Azam after just one match, arguing that this approach hinders the development of young players.
“Azam wasn’t given a chance to keep wickets after one match and was dropped after getting out on the very first ball (against USA). Any player can get out on the first ball, but here the tradition of developing players that used to exist is no longer there,” said Moin.
He specifically blamed Raja for dropping Azam from the 2021 T20 World Cup squad, suggesting that it had a demoralizing effect on the young player. Moin did acknowledge that his son has his own shortcomings, emphasizing the need for Azam to work on his physical and mental strength.
However, Moin’s primary focus was on criticizing the management’s handling of Azam. He also expressed his strong support for Shaheen Afridi as the white-ball captain, arguing that Afridi is a highly capable leader who deserves a longer term at the helm. Moin advocated for one captain for all formats and highlighted the negative impact of frequent changes in leadership, which he believes creates instability and undermines team performance.
“Players may not listen to their captain if there are constant changes. If the cricket board provides full support to the captain and assures them of a long-term responsibility, the team’s performance will improve,” he concluded.
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