Former Test cricketer and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja, has advised players against taking their wives on tours. Renowned commentator Ramiz Raja, speaking in a podcast, stated that in his personal opinion, players should not take their wives on tours because their focus shifts away from cricket and towards other activities. Players end up taking their wives shopping and looking after their children, which disrupts their rhythm.
Ramiz Raja mentioned that wives often criticize players for their imperfect performance, and even during one tour, he did not take his wife with him because he anticipated that his focus on cricket might get diverted due to his wife. He said, “I now do not play cricket; I do commentary, but if I take my wife along, there is a possibility that during the eight-hour commentary, I might be seen smiling in front of her, but when I reach her, my mood changes.” The former cricketer stated that traveling with young children also distracts players. If they cannot perform well in the stadium, they have to take their wives out of the hotel. They also have to look after their children, which affects their mood. Ramiz Raja advised that in his opinion, players should stay with their families for a week after the tour so that they can enjoy a pleasant life.