ISLAMABAD-
Pakistan’s former test captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has refused to take over as chief selector just nine days after he was supposed to join the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Latif says he doesn’t want to ”come into controversy” and will not join the PCB as chief selector.
Pakistan made an early exit from the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh when it lost to West Indies in the last group match.
Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez, who only scored 55 runs in the World Twenty20 and took just one wicket, stepped down soon after the tournament, while short contracts of head coach Moin Khan and batting consultant Zaheer Abbas’ also expired.
Latif criticised Hafeez’s decision to step down and was also vocal against team’s poor performance on the state owned Pakistan Television.
Local media had also speculated that Latif might also refuse to take over as chief selector.
”Today there’s too much in (the) media and I would like to break my silence by announcing that I will not join PCB as chief selector,” Latif said.
Latif, 45, scored 1,381 runs in 37 test matches and 1,709 runs in 166 one-day internationals in between 1992-2003.
Latif also served as batting coach and head coach of Afghanistan national team and had also briefly coached Pakistan wicketkeepers.
In his tweet on Tuesday, PCB chairman Najam Sethi said that Pakistan will tour World Twenty20 champions Sri Lanka in July-August before taking on Australia in a one-off Twenty20, three one-day internationals and two test matches, all in the United Arab Emirates in Oct.
Rashid Latif's refusal to accept the assignment is plainly and manifestly expressing "no confidence" in Najam Sethi. So should do all cricketers if approached. All leading cricketers should now come out and demand his replacement by a more experienced man like Ehsan Mani, Arif Abbasi or Khalid Mehmood. They are the ones who can rescue and restore their game at international level.
Rashid Latif's refusal to accept the assignment is clearly showing "no confidence" in Najam Sethi. So should do all cricketers if approached. Najam Sethi's career hallmark is creating controversies, bickering and strife and accordingly he has pushed Pakistan cricket into a cesspool (dirty ditch). Now is the time for all cricket lovers and especially the experienced cricketers to raise their voices and demand replacement of Najam Sethi with a capable man that are available in Pakistan so that the cricket in Pakistan is rescued and restored to its deserving status.
According to unofficial sources, the number of kidnapped tribesmen is about 100 and they had been picked up for their involvement in the drug trade.
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