New Delhi: It was not a great outing for the Pakistan team in the finals of the Asia Cup 2022. After the loss against Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Cricket Board Chief, Ramiz Raza, was seen going out of character and mistreating an Indian journalist. He tried to snatch away a journalist’s phone when questioned after Pakistan’s loss.
The former captain and current PCB head, Raza, was there at the Dubai International Stadium to witness the final game of the tournament. After the match, as he was getting out, he was questioned by a few journalists. An Indian reporter asked him if he had a message for the Pakistan cricket fans, who were heartbroken after the final loss. Raza, rather than giving a message, heated up things by saying that people in India must be happy after Pakistan’s loss. After a discussion between the two, the PCB chief tried to snatch the reporter’s mobile phone to delete the recording.
क्या मेरा सवाल ग़लत था – क्या पाकिस्तान के फ़ैन नाखुश नहीं है – ये बहुत ग़लत था एक बोर्ड के चेयरमैन के रूप में – आपको मेरा फ़ोन नहीं छीनना चाहिये था – that’s not right Mr Chairman Taking my phone was not right @TheRealPCB @iramizraja #PAKvSL #SLvsPAK pic.twitter.com/tzio5cJvbG
— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) September 11, 2022
The journalist also tweeted about the incident saying, ‘Was my question wrong- are Pakistan fans not unhappy- that’s not right Mr Chairman taking my phone was not right.’ He also shared footage of the incident on social media.
In the game, Sri Lanka did not start well as their openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were back in the pavilion by the fourth over. Dhananjaya de Silva could manage 28(21) and soon the batting collapsed to 58/5 in 8.5 overs. Then Bhanuka Rajapaksa stood up and posted a 58-run stand with Wanindu Hasaranga. Hasaranga scored 36 off 21 while Rajapaksa fire-powered 71* off 45 balls to lead Sri Lanka to a total of 170/6. Haris Rauf bowled well and picked up three wickets while Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Naseem Shah took one each.
Pramod Madushan was on fire for Sri Lanka as he dismissed Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman in the fourth over. Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar built a 71-run partnership in the next 9.5 overs. Madushan struck again with a slower one to dismiss Iftikhar for 32(31). Hasaranga brought the chase nearly to an end by taking three wickets in an over while Pakistan was left 112/7. Rizwan’s 55 off 49 went in vain as Sri Lanka picked the cup.
