Ramiz Raja says India`s fielding benchmark for all countries

Islamabad: Former Pakistan Test captain Ramiz Raja has said India is the fielding benchmark for all countries, adding that if they could improve their fielding standards so drastically then Pakistan too could.

Raja made the comments during an interview after Pakistan`s poor performance at the recently-concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2013. According to Raja, Pakistan too can improve their batting fielding standards if their next door neighbour and arch rival India can do it, can make a dramatic improvement in their performances. Meanwhile, Raja further said that Pakistan`s batting needed to improve quite dramatically, adding that he did not know whether the team had enough talent to win the next World Cup. Stating that although there would always be a replacement for a player like Umar Akmnal waiting in the wings, Raja, however, said that he and Azhar Ali could have made a difference to the side and have Pakistan a glimmer of hope during the Champions Trophy, despite Akmal`s his ups and downs. He also said that Ali was a good tactical and technical batsman because of the way he played the game and can be a winner on his day. Batting is always going to be an issue, but as far as bowling is concerned the team will always find good bowlers, added Raja. ANI