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Every star cricketer tends to transform into a Television commentator after his retirement.

But Pakistan opener Rameez Raja's metamorphosis took place quietly even before he has formally announced his retirement from the game. He is now a successful TV commentator and a member of the ESPN-Star Sports panel, which will cover the next World Cup.

Born in Faisalabad, formerly known as Lyallpur on 14 August 1962, Rameez, the prolific right-hander, made his Test debut in a home match against England at Karachi in the 1983-83 season and played his last Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC ground in Colombo in the 1996-97 season. In his 57-match Test career, Rameez scored 2833 runs with two centuries. He also played 198 one-day matches for his country, scoring 5481 runs that included nine tons.

The World Cup winning opener was one of the six members of the commentary team that covered the Asian Test Championship final and the one-off one-day match between Bangladesh and Pakistan. During his week-long stay in the capital, Rameez talked to The Daily Star correspondent Hasan Masood on Sunday at the upper tier of the Bangabandhu National Stadium regarding many aspects of cricket.

Excerpts of the interview:

Daily Star (DS): How do you appreciate the idea of this Asian Test Championship?

Rameez Raja (RR): This is a good idea. It has made Test cricket more exciting. And I do feel that the points system needs to be looked at again. There is always a possibility of changing the rules--that is what the ICC will be looking at for the World Championship of cricket. I think it's a very good idea.

DS: What do you think about the Lahore Test? Don't you feel Pakistan gave away those bonus points to Sri Lanka in order to avoid India in the final?

RR: The best man to answer that would be Wasim Akram or Javed Miandad. As far as I was concerned, it was clever cricket. Pakistan had the option to choose their opponents in the final and they chose Sri Lanka. But still the best man is Wasim or Javed to explain that.

DS: You have not yet officially retired.

RR: Well, I have. I have just not given an official statement because I thought I would play another year or two for my Bank. They need someone out there because most of the cricketers that are employed by the Allied Bank play for Pakistan; like Rashid, Aamir Sohail, Arshad Khan and Wasti. So, we need a team and that was one reason why I have not made an official announcement.

DS: That means you are continuing with cricket.

RR: Well, if I find time, I will play this season, which is highly unlikely because I will be pushing off to England for the World Cup.

DS: How are you enjoying your new career as a TV commentator?

RR: This is very good. I think it's related to cricket which I enjoy most. I am lucky to be with some very good cricketers here in the team. It's a powerful medium. We can talk about the game, tell the viewers about the finer points. So, it's a very tough table and a good job as well.

DS: Do you agree with the Pakistan Cricket Board's selection of 19 cricketers for the World Cup?

RR: Yes, I do. Although there are a couple of players who consider themselves unlucky not to be included in the list, I think it's a good beginning and Pakistan should just concentrate on the lot and encourage the youngsters to come up to a certain international level.

DS: How would you comment on young players like Youhana, Wasti and Imran Nazir?

RR: It is early days for these youngsters. They will be exposed once they go to Australia or when they play against South Africa and other tougher opposition.

DS: What do you hope for Pakistan in the World Cup?

RR: They have got reasonable chances. Anything can happen in one-day cricket. You have to really play well on that particular day. And that is how we won the 1992 World Cup also. Nobody rated us. We lost some matches poorly against a few teams initially before we got into the crunch games. Individual brilliance began to explode from then onwards. Inzamam got a few runs. Javed and I, we all clicked at the right moments. That is very important in one-day cricket. You need to perform on a particular day. Forget about a team not doing well on the other day. On the day of your game, it's another day, another match. If you are good enough then obviously you have chances of winning. Pakistan is talented enough to really go out and win the World Cup.

DS: Do you have any comment on the exclusion of Salim Malik and Aamir Sohail from the World Cup team?

RR: Not really. It's up to the board to decide about the future and I think they have decided not to pick them, although I would like Aamir Sohail really to feature in the initial list of 19 because he is a very useful all-rounder, who has done well recently. But I think the board had another thinking cap on. They are happy without having them there.

DS: Dhaka Stadium has changed a lot from what you saw the last time you came in 1994.

RR: Yes, it has come out very nicely. Last time when I came here, it was not that groomed. The outfield, pitch, facilities, everything have improved to a world standard. It's really good to see another good venue in Asia.

DS: Finally, what suggestions would you give to Bangladeshi cricketers?

RR: They need to watch the top players in action. Need to tour. You need funds and obviously to generate funds you need to invite teams here, need to invite more one-day matches here. So I think you should have a good organisation backed by a good infrastructure.