There was reportedly an impasse between Latif and the PCB over the appointment of members of the selection committee. PHOTO: AFP
While Pakistan recover from their unceremonious exit from the World Twenty20, former wicket-keeper Rashid Latif added insult to injury by declining to take charge as chief selector.
Latif is now the third former captain in recent days to leave the post without selecting even a single team.
Moin Khan and Aamir Sohail were also named replacements after Iqbal Qasim’s resignation from the post last year, but had to leave within a few days due to court’s intervention and removal of Zaka Ashraf respectively.
Latif accepted the post in February after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) asked him to prepare a team for the 2015 World Cup. He did not give any specific reasons for his decision.
“I officially declined the post,” said Latif in a statement released to the media.
“No hard feelings for both parties. I don’t want to get embroiled in controversy and I hope that Pakistan cricket flourishes under the chairman. I will not make any further statement.”
According to an official close to the matter, Latif returned the contract letter to the PCB without signing it. The former captain was expected to start his tenure this month after the formation of a new selection committee.
Latif wanted former captain Mohammad Yousuf to be the part of the selection committee but the governing body was reluctant to appoint the former batsman. Yousuf is presently associated with a television channel and has been critical of the PCB and senior cricketers.
The official termed Latif’s decision as a setback in the PCB’s reform plans.
“Latif prepared an extensive plan for the uplift of domestic cricket structure.
“The plan was being assessed by the PCB for implementation but now there is a halt in proceedings.
“The board has not responded to Latif’s decision and it will be followed once Sethi is back.”
‘Team needs a mature leader’
Latif’s withdrawal is not the only issue the cricket board faces. Leading national players appear divided on the choice of new captain after Mohammad Hafeez resigned following the defeat to the West Indies.
“Hafeez was worried about his own form in the tournament, since he wasn’t performing,” disclosed a senior player.
“However, his on-field decisions weren’t bad. We got clobbered [82 runs in the last five overs] against the West Indies, but that was an extraordinary performance. A captain can’t do much in such a scenario.
“Hafeez had the best death bowlers [Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Sohail Tanvir] deployed at the end, that’s what anyone would have done”.
He added that the players crumbled against India in the face of heightened expectations.
“We were overwhelmed and jittery. On the other hand, the Indian players never take undue pressure from Indo-Pak rivalry.”
However, another player was hardly impressed by Hafeez’s leadership.
“Hafeez was unnecessarily defensive and under pressure, he failed to inspire the youngsters around him.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2014.
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Wait a second, How did Rashid Latif's career end? Should we really be approaching people who were shown the door, after claiming catches they never took and performing worse than Kamran akmal(and that is a real low standard)? Just look at their performance at the end of their careers then look at their conduct on field and finally their qualifications. I say, don't bother with people who fail any 2 of these criteria.
LMAO at Yaseen. No wonder most of the Pakistani fans are so ignorant.
Sethi take cue and resign
@Yaseen, character? because the board didnt select his recomnded Yousaf, so he resigned?
How is that character? Character would have been working hard for the our team.
Hats off to Rashid Latif for resigning.. that's called 'character' which we hardly see in anyone in Pakistan these days. Pakistani cricket needs a full-fledge 'operation' to completely revamp the side and Rashid alongwith the help of Muhammad Yousuf wanted to do just that. The corrupt PCH high-ups including Sethi did not allow they as these people don't know an iota of cricket and are just there to mint money.