The lowest points in cricketing history for the Pakistan cricket team was when they lost at home to Bangladesh in the 2-match Test series. By inflicting such defeat on home team they pulled off one of their great triumphs ever recorded. Yet, there are still players in the Pakistan team who have been subjected to fans’ and experts’ wrath, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not been spared criticism either. Actually, it is none other than the Pakistan Board and its recent chairmen who have attracted most blame, according to Rashid Latif, a former star player from that country.
Latif said on his program ‘Caught Behind’ that “whosoever chairmen came last four years they turn into demolishers (of Pakistan cricket)”. He further questioned “who appointed him as (Test) captain?” and “who was responsible for removal of Babar Azam?” in his tirade against PCB he stated “So what does he do now? Only gives interviews?”
This has led several people to doubt PCB’s aspiration for the future, especially after the recent captaincy shake-up. He was first ousted from three formats, only to be reinstated as the captain of white-ball cricket. It is not surprising that Latif was equally harsh on Zaka Ashraf who took over from Babar Azam and appointed Shaheen Afridi in his place for T20Is and ODIs
“Team banana kis ka kaam hai. Zaka Ashraf ka ya Misbah ka? said Latif, questioning the role of Misbah-ul-Haq who served as an advisor to Ashraf and also was head of cricket committee.
Ashraf did everything: made the team and appointed captains, but who is to blame; Babar? “You forced Babar to resign. The team started disintegrating from there itself. To break the team you made Shan the captain for your own benefit. So now your team is broken.”
Also, how can they be held accountable for the damage done by those who left? Chairman-ship must not be honorary. These people cannot be audited. It ought to be inscribed in (PCB) constitution that (chairman) can’t appoint a captain nor can he make the selection committee” Latif went on with his further arguments.
All powers have been handed over to a chairman. They haven’t got any idea about what cricket is.”
