April 11, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 4, 1429

LAHORE, April 10: Zaeem Raja, younger brother of former Test-cricketer Wasim Raja, while slamming the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for failing to acknowledge the cricketing accomplishments of the elegant left-hander since his passing away in 2006, has beseeched the top PML-N leadership for some assistance regarding the matter.

“The PCB did nothing for him. They didn’t even hold a reference in his honour. It’s very painful for the family, and they [the PCB] should be ashamed of themselves,” he said in a fret of anger.

Zaeem, himself a former first-class cricketer, told Dawn that after having a chance to talk to former premier Nawaz Sharif, he was hopeful about getting some kind of recognition for his late brother.

“A tournament in his name or maybe a big series … after all he was the darling of the nation,” said Zaeem.“He was the only player to score heavily against the West Indies which even greats like Miandad and Zaheer could not manage. He also featured in three World Cups and later became a respected match referee.”

Although there is a ‘Rajas’ enclosure’ at the Gaddafi Stadium in honour of both Wasim and Rameez Raja’s cricket accomplishments, the family’s third son, Zaeem pointed out that it had been in place several years before Wasim’s tragic death.

Wasim Raja played 57 Tests between 1973 and 1985 in which he hit four centuries and scored 2,821 runs at an average of 36.16. His career statistics, however, do not really do justice to his true worth to the team as a high class all-rounder who thrived in adversity, scoring 917 runs in 11 Tests against the mighty West Indies at a healthy average of 57.43.

Wasim Raja collapsed and died on the field while playing for the Surrey in an Over-50s tournament at High Wycombe two years ago to leave thousands of his fans around the world absolutely shell-shocked. He is survived by his wife Anne and sons Ali and Ahmed.