SPORTS REPORT
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja is facing criticism for claiming that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial capital, Peshawar city, is unsafe for foreign players to play. Ramiz Raja termed Peshawar as a ‘Red Flag’ for Western players.
In an interview with Sky Sports, the PCB Chairman said they cannot bring Western teams to Peshawar at this moment.
The PCB Chairman’s statement came days after PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain’s statement about hosting international cricket in Peshawar.
The PCB chief’s statement caused a wave of outrage in Peshawar and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. People of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and especially of Peshawar lambasted Ramiz Raja for his controversial statement and said that he must be ashamed of his statement about a peaceful city also known as the city of flowers.
Ramiz Raja widely criticized
Renowned sports journalist and sports writer Amjad Aziz Malik strongly reacted to the PCB Chairman’s statement and said that the comments were extremely hurtful to the People of Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a whole. He dared Raja to visit Peshawar and then make statements about the city.
Amjad Aziz Malik maintained that there are two international cricket stadiums in the city: Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and Hayatabad Cricket Stadium.
The sports journalist ashamed Ramiz Raja and said that the province had made matchless sacrifices for the country’s peace. He claimed foreign nationals love Peshawar as a peaceful and secure city; however, Ramiz Raja is not ready to visit Peshawar as he was invited to attend a Peace Conference in the city but has yet to visit.
Ramiz Raja must visit Peshawar
Amjad Aziz Malik also shared a video in which envoys of different cities shared their views about security in Peshawar. He lamented Ramiz Raja and said he must be ashamed as foreign diplomats are acknowledging the peaceful atmosphere of Peshawar. In contrast, the PCB chairman is terming the city as a red flag for foreign players.
The YouTube video featured Azerbaijan, Romania, Nepal, Malaysia, Korean, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia diplomats. The diplomats can be listened to saying Peshawar is a wonderful, peaceful, and secure city.
Earlier, Ramiz Raja had said Peshawar is still he is afraid of a red flag for most Western players. Peshawarities and KP people are angered over the PCB Chief’s statement and asked him to take back his statement and tender an apology. Ramiz said Peshawar is not safe for Western players.’’
