Rashid Latif resigns
Friday, September 26 2003
Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has stood down from his position ahead of the on-off series with South Africa.
Latif was reported to have been involved in disputes with chief selector Aamer Sohail over recent team selections, and had come in for criticism from PCB chairman Tauqir Zia.
Zia had publicly criticised Latif for his open letter to the ICC, claiming the danger of potential match fixing still looms large. Zia also said Latif needed to show more maturity after he received a five match ban in one day internationals for claiming a grounded catch during the test series with Bangladesh.
Zia has been a source of controversy himself, since his son was selected to the Pakistan side ahead of others who were generally thought to be more deserving.
Zia however did thank Latif and remark that he was still considered the best wicketkeeper in Pakistan.
Inzamam-ul-Haq is expected to succeed Latif, after leading Pakistan to a 5-0 series victory over Bangladesh in Latif's absence. Latif said Inzamam looked fit and was playing as well as ever, and that his match saving knock in the third test (Pakistan avoiding an embarrassing first test defeat to Bangladesh by one wicket) was one of the best he has played. Latif said Inzamam lead the side well.
Latif was appointed captain after Pakistan's disastrous 2003 World Cup campaign and did a decent job grooming a young and inexperienced line-up after the mass culling of the more senior members of the side.
But his second stint (Latif was also appointed captain in 1997-98) in charge was to last a mere six months. In between Pakistan were captained by Moin Khan, Latif's successor behind the stumps, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
All this after Latif retired from international cricket as far back as 1994-95. Some suspicious incidents involving captain Salim Malik on Pakistan's tour to South Africa and Zimbabwe convinced "Mr Clean" international cricket was not for him.
Latif gave evidence against several former team-mates during the match-fixing scandal and for a while was outcast as a result.
Posted by Barrie
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