No more in contact with Imran Khan, says Ramiz Raja

Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja on Friday sought to build a relationship with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying he is not in contact with Imran Khan since his ouster from the PM's Office.

In a press conference on Friday, after the 69th meeting of the PCB Board of Governors, Raja disclosed that the ex-premier has cut off ties with him after he was removed from the office.

"Imran bhai cut off contact with me. I haven't talked to him for a long time now," Raja said in response to a question.

Raja, a friend of the former PM, under whose captaincy he played during the 1992 World Cup, was brought in as PCB chairman after Ehsan Mani's tenure ended last year.

After Imran's ouster in April, there are reports that the new government is mulling to bring new leadership to the PCB. A couple of days ago, former chairman Khalid Mehmood also had a meeting with the PM.

However, Raja, in an attempt to continue in office, showed respect to the current PCB's patron-in-chief and emphasised building relations with him.

"We can't live around speculation. I believe there is a need for continuity apart from political differences," Raja was quoted as saying by The News.

"See, our prime minister is our patron-in-chief, we have requested his time and if he meets us, we will tell him about our work. I think there is no need for ego here as, in the end, we all want the upliftment of cricket," Raja said.

"If there is anything in the constitution about the removal of the PCB chairman every time, go ahead with it. Otherwise, fulfilling individual desires won't work in favour of the game," he said.

"The ball is in his court," Raja said, referring to PM Shehbaz Sharif.