Latif accepted the proposal to become the Pakistan chief selector in February, but stepped down from the position last week. PHOTO: EXPRESS FILE
PCB chairman Najam Sethi, who was in Dubai to attend the crucial International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting when Latif refused to take charge as the chief selector, said he was disappointed with the former wicket-keeper’s decision.
Latif accepted the offer to become chief selector in February, but declined to take charge last week. The veteran, while turning down the offer, said he does not want to get ‘embroiled in controversy’. Officials close to the matter said Latif wanted to appoint former captain Mohammad Yousuf in the selection committee, but the PCB was reluctant.
Following Latif’s withdrawal, reports suggested that Sethi summoned him on April 14 to hear his grievances with the former captain, saying he has no issues in meeting the chairman if he receives a formal invitation.
But it seems that the PCB is unlikely to convince the former captain and may opt for a new selection committee.
“Latif has pulled out of his commitment to the PCB,” Sethi told The Express Tribune.
“I am very disappointed; the matter is now closed.”
Latif was the third former captain in recent months to quit the post without selecting 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 different reasons.
Speculations are rife that Moin, who failed in his first stint as head coach in the World Twenty20, may come back as the chief selector. He was appointed in the same post by Sethi, but was shown the door by former chairman Zaka Ashraf, who appointed Sohail afterwards.
PCB advised only to back Amir: Sethi
The PCB will not provide support to Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, unlike Mohammad Amir, who has been given full support
regarding his ban.
However, the former captain, who is serving a 10-year ban in the spot-fixing case, appealed for equal treatment for himself and Asif, who was handed a seven-year ban.
The PCB is only pursuing Amir’s five-year ban, the minimum length of time as per the ICC rules in the aftermath of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal during Pakistan’s tour of England.
Sethi said the PCB was supporting the young fast-bowler after consulting with top lawyers in the UK.
“The PCB took the British Queen’s Counsel’s opinion, which advised only in favour of Amir for various reasons. So I am pursing his case.”
Amir, who was just 18 when he received the ban, got sympathy from various quarters, as he was also the first one to plead guilty of spot-fixing and cooperated with the ICC.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2014.
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@Careful reader:
Shame on you! Pakistan was created on name of Allah (SWT) these are not only highly qualified people they are respected throughout world for their honesty and up right bringing
G.Khan Birmingham.UK
Alas, I was expecting some real changes in the team after I heard that Rashid is taking over. Now it will be the same old team.
@Adnan Siddiqi:
What about guys like Najam Sethi and guys like Nawaz Sharif who appointed him without any cricketing experience?
rashid latif wrong for trying to force yousaf on to the selection committee. yousaf is too close to his playing days and has played with some existing players who are still in the active pool of national players.
beard is not the problem. beard is a good thing. tablighi jamaat is the problem. they force an unhealthy dynamic in the dressing room.
It is shame that a person with beard is a tableeghi and cannot coach Pakistani cricketers while they have been coaching England and WI. Amla with along beard play for South Africa. Then we say that Pakistan is Islamic Republic of Pakistan - is it a joke?
Rashid latif wanted yousuf in the selection committee, and waqar , saqlain, mushtaq Ahmed as coaches. The pcb needs to be careful because there is risk of making the team tableeghi-ized because all of them belong to tableeghi jamaat. Only thing left after that will be to make inzi or anwar the batting coach.
Salman Butt and Asif should never be allowed in cricket. They have ended their career by making quick bucks. Amir's age and remorse is on his side and deserves "some" sympathy. He would still have a few useful/valuable years left in him while Butt and Asif would be over the hill and dead horses.
Jobs for the boys... One week a guy is selector then morphs into head coach before returning as selector again... Just need to make sure you are on the right side of the powers that be!
Guys like Rashid Latif just want to act righteous and sanctimonious while criticising others and the system. When the times comes for them to make the difference and overhaul anything, they chicken out.