I think Moin Khan should be the new keeper and either Yousuf Youhana or Abdul Razzaq should be the new captain
Captaincy row simmers as Rashid Latif quits
PCB fail to clarify matters as wicketkeeper batsman makes himself available for SA series as player
KARACHI: Confusion reigned in the Pakistan cricket ranks on Wednesday after some dramatic developments that left one wondering what games were being played behind the scenes.
While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced late night that Rashid Latif had stepped down as captain and also quit international cricket, Rashid himself said that he had reconsidered his position and would continue to be available for selection for the home series against South Africa.
“Yes, I have stepped down as captain and yes I did give it in writing to the Board that I also didn’t want to continue playing cricket. But I have reconsidered my position after being pressurized by my fans and well wishers to continue playing for Pakistan. And I have decided to make myself available as a player,” Rashid said late night.
**The Board only created more confusion by stating in its statement that however, the resignation of Rashid has not been accepted or rejected by the PCB Chariman. **“The decision will be made on Thursday.”
Yet the Board release carried a long detailed statement of the Chairman and also extracts from Rashid’s letter given to the Board on his resignation.
One failed to understand that when the Board had delayed a decision on whether to accept or reject Rashid’s resignation to Thursday, what was the necessity of issuing the detailed press release late Wednesday night?
This was also quite odd since initially after Rashid had himself confirmed he had stepped down as captain after a one to one meeting with Tauqir Zia in Karachi in the afternoon, the Board had avoided making any detailed comments.
But one thing was clear despite all the controversy that came just three days before the South Africans are due to land in that Tauqir Zia would by now be well versed with the famous song by the English band Queen which goes “Another one bites the dust”.
Just what were the circumstances and pressures that induced Rashid Latif, playing better than ever in his career and having proved himself as an able leader, to take such a dramatic decision is anybody’s guess.
But nothing is lost as yet because on Thursday the Board can still put things right by ensuring that Latif is in the team that faces South Africa either as captain or just a player.
Either way, his presence is necessary to ensure that Pakistan do not prove sitting ducks for the strong South African side who will now be out to prove their standing more so after the fiasco over the security issues.
Surprisingly, the resignation announcement was leaked out to a local television channel by a senior Board executive who has nothing to do with the media, shortly after Rashid had concluded a significant meeting with Tauqir behind closed doors.
Tauqir Zia was quoted as saying in the PCB statement that he was disappointed and sad over Rashid Latif’s decision to resign as Pakistan captain and retirement from international cricket. **"He was brought back into the national team (in 2001) as he was and still is considered as the best wicketkeeper in the country. It was because of that respect and regard that Rashid Latif was made the Pakistan captain after the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup.
“He is an honest person who has led the side extremely well and I would be sorry to lose such a cricketer and a man of integrity who knows better himself when to say good bye to cricket.”
“I have got tremendous respect for Rashid who has always put cricket first. His services to the game of cricket and the country are meritorious and will be long remembered.”**
But if Tauqir has such high regards for Rashid then it is strange that even if the latter was hell bent on stepping down why he (Tauqir) didn’t make any strong efforts to change his mind knowing well the delicate juncture at which the Pakistan team is at today.
Clearly, the Chairman has tried to find a quick fix to the ongoing problem between Rashid and chief selector Aamer Sohail and has chosen to support his chief selector.
Rashid Latif, in his resignation to the PCB Chairman, wrote: **"Inzamam-ul-Haq played superbly under pressure and continued his form into the one-day international series.
He played one of his best ever innings for Pakistan at Multan. He is completely committed and fit and I would like him to continue the captaincy against South Africa.
" I am saying this again that the time has come for me to leave the captaincy and cricket. It was my promise to the chairperson of the PCB that I will not let the country and the PCB down and will do my best to groom the team. I can confidently say that I have done my job most honestly and it may be time for me to leave cricket to create an opportunity to groom a future wicketkeeper."**
But late night the wicketkeeper-batsman insisted that he was available for selection against South Africa. **“I have stepped down as captain. The reasons for which I don’t want to discuss now. But yes, I have decided not to retire as a player and I am available for the home series against South Africa,” he said.
“I have stepped down as captain not as player. I have my reasons for deciding against captaining the side. But I don’t want to elaborate on them now. But I am very keen to play as a player against South Africa and thereafter,”** he added.
Latif, who has played 37 Tests and 161 One-day Internationals in a career spanning 11 years since he made his Test debut against England in 92’ said his hunger for international cricket was still there and he would like to continue as a player.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
Rashid Latif had stepped down as captain and also quit international cricket, **Rashid himself said that he had reconsidered his position* and would continue to be available for selection for the home series against South Africa.
[/QUOTE]
This Latif dude.. can't he make up his mind, once and for all. This on again/off again retirement game gets stale after a while.
This is not a regional issue by any means. The same guys (Amer Sohail, Tauquir Zia, Rameez) made Rashid captain and Miandad coach. I doubt that the rigional thing would bome up 6 months later if it was'nt an issue originally.
I don't think it is fair that Rashid was pressured to quit though, he did a decent job and the team seemed headed in the right direction. I hope this does'nt mean that all the guys who went to Rashid's cricket academy (Faisel Iqbal, Danish Kaneria, Younis Khan,,,,,) get dropped. The next captain should be Inzi for now, and at some point in the future we should bring back Moin for the job. I am not sure if Kamran Akmal is ready to keep wickets yet.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
This Latif dude.. can't he make up his mind, once and for all. This on again/off again retirement game gets stale after a while.
[/QUOTE]
Exactly my thoughts. He should have stuck with his words in resignation letter unless he wrote that with gun on his head. This is the best opportunity for him to retire gracefully, otherwise he'll face the same fate as Wasim and Waqar.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by elahi: *
This is not a regional issue by any means...
[/QUOTE]
Everyone agrees with these words except for one or 2 members, so I suggest that from now on we should ignore such comments.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by LahoriMunda: *
Why does the regional issues always rise when something happens to a player from Karachi. Wasim was sacked after the world cup and Rashid was nominated the captain but no one questioned why a player from Lahore, mind you a much greater player then the nominated captain, was dropped and a player from Karachi was made captain.
[/quote]
Not that I think he was kicked out because he was from Karachi but what are the odds?
Both Wasim and Waqar were sacked as captain previously, because their team was losing consistently.
Yes Pak did lose in England and Lanka, but they went down with a fight and Rashid was doing a tremendous job as a captain by grooming young players.
What has Rashid done wrong with the team performance they he was being sacked.
Like you said both Wasim and Waqar went on to become captains after the Marijuana incident.
Why can't Rashid?
[quote]
People jumped up and down when Saeed Bin Nasir was not picked, yet no one cared that Misbah had not been given a fair chance to prove him self.
[/quote]
Mizbah was given seldom chances but he was still picked for couple matches while Nasir has been a top scorer for couple years now and he is not even considered, there is a difference.
[quote]
I think the board does not care about the regional bull**** they just give the chance to some sifarshi players on occasion. And what is so wrong with Inzimam being the captain apart from the fact that he is not from Karachi. I mean he is a senior players, been in the team longer then Rashid. Dont you think he deserves a chance too??? What has he done wrong. We won all the matches agaisnt Bangladesh there not a whole lot more he can do. I agree it was a weak opposition but he cant do anything better then 5-0.
[/QUOTE]
You pick a new captain if the other captain is contributing to team's defeat, why should Inzi be selected if Rashid is doing a decent job.
I am sure Inzi might be a good captain (supposedly) but Rashid was as good or even better.
And he won us matches against stronger opponents like Lanka and Zimbabwe.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
Not that I think he was kicked out because he was from Karachi but what are the odds?
Both Wasim and Waqar were sacked as captain previously, because their team was losing consistently.
Yes Pak did lose in England and Lanka, but they went down with a fight and Rashid was doing a tremendous job as a captain by grooming young players.
What has Rashid done wrong with the team performance they he was being sacked.
Like you said both Wasim and Waqar went on to become captains after the Marijuana incident.
Why can't Rashid?
[/quote]
You can say this losing stuff about Waqar but Akram's last few tounraments as captain were very successful. Under his captaincy we lost the 99' WC final, then won the ODI series agaisnt Wesit Indies, won the 99 Sharjah Cup and were the losing finalists in the Carlton & United series. So basically we won agiasnt everyone except Australia. You cant call this a bad record. As far as why cant Rashid get another chance. Well as Ramiz has said that PCB is trying to introduce a new culture in the dressing room and just becasue we made mistakes in the past does not mean we should repeat those mistakes.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
Mizbah was given seldom chances but he was still picked for couple matches while Nasir has been a top scorer for couple years now and he is not even considered, there is a difference.
[/quote]
Misbah has scored at an average of above 40 but he has played a lot less matches compared to Faisal Iqbal. Now is it because of regional discrimantion or becasue Faisal is realted to a big shot from Karachi????
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
You pick a new captain if the other captain is contributing to team's defeat, why should Inzi be selected if Rashid is doing a decent job.
I am sure Inzi might be a good captain (supposedly) but Rashid was as good or even better.
And he won us matches against stronger opponents like Lanka and Zimbabwe.
[/QUOTE]
Rashid was a good captain but he screwed up. No one told him to claim the catch when he knew it went out. I mean comeon everyone knew he lied. After the match he said he took the catch and then threw the ball to Inzi in slips, except he conveniently forgot to mention picking the ball from the ground before giving it to Inzi. It was all very clear in the reply. Rashid has been an honest player over the years but that does not mean you can believe everything he says.
The Game Responds:
*There is a God, and he loves cricket! People, That Is All.*
PCB is gone ch**tiya.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by LahoriMunda: *
Why does the regional issues always rise when something happens to a player from Karachi. Wasim was sacked after the world cup and Rashid was nominated the captain but no one questioned why a player from Lahore, mind you a much greater player then the nominated captain, was dropped and a player from Karachi was made captain.
Horse sheet :)
What are you talking about, if Waqar Younis was sacket because his team didn't performed well, he were are humuliated in WC2003.
Was that Rashid Latif's fault that our performace was pathatic in worldcup? Why the hell Saeeed Anwar was cut from the team, he was the most consistent player through out the history of Pakistani cricket was that Rashid latif's fault. If this is not a regional or race or color or a language issue than..............
People jumped up and down when Saeed Bin Nasir was not picked, yet no one cared that Misbah had not been given a fair chance to prove him self.
Same people also talk to about why Misbah, Saleem Elahi are ignored and Taufeeq umer & Hafeez was given chance.
I think the board does not care about the regional bull**** they just give the chance to some sifarshi players on occasion. And what is so wrong with Inzimam being the captain apart from the fact that he is not from Karachi. I mean he is a senior players, been in the team longer then Rashid. Dont you think he deserves a chance too??? What has he done wrong. We won all the matches agaisnt Bangladesh there not a whole lot more he can do. I agree it was a weak opposition but he cant do anything better then 5-0.
[/QUOTE]
Wrong again, Aamir Sohail is m---f doesn't listen to anyone else, it his way or high way and i think say think happend to poor Rashid Latif.
The only reason he sent the letter because everyone wanted to know why he was not included in the Squad against SA. Rashid spoke not only to humilated PCB, which deserver alot more than that but also show his fans that he truly love cricket and he will try to do his best to help youngster anyway he can...............
Couldn’t have agreed more :k: PT you always hit the right spot 
i recall inzi giving up his vice captaincy after the world cup because he claimed it was too much pressure for him which was one of the reasons for his dismal performance at the WC?? now he has a completely different attitude? i'd be surprised if rashid is retained as wicket keeper for the SA series after all this pungaa, but to put kamran akmal in this situation would be unfair i think,, maybe the pcb is just doing all this to bring moin khan back into the side...persoanlly i've always been a moin fan
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by LahoriMunda: *
You can say this losing stuff about Waqar but Akram's last few tounraments as captain were very successful. Under his captaincy we lost the 99' WC final, then won the ODI series agaisnt Wesit Indies, won the 99 Sharjah Cup and were the losing finalists in the Carlton & United series. So basically we won agiasnt everyone except Australia. You cant call this a bad record. As far as why cant Rashid get another chance. Well as Ramiz has said that PCB is trying to introduce a new culture in the dressing room and just becasue we made mistakes in the past does not mean we should repeat those mistakes.
[/quote]
Actually Wasim captained the Pakistani side @ home against Lanka after C&U which Pakistan lost both test and one day series to the Lankans in a humiliative fashion, thats when I think he was sacked but also thats when Wasim's match fixing allegations errupted and Wasim was punished by PCB according Qayyum Report that he can never lead the Pakistani side.
The fact that Pakistan was only able to defeat India in C&U Series, and lose all 4 of 5 one dayers to Aus in that tourney, which also included 3-0 test drubbing by the Aussies, I wouldn't really call it a successfull tour for Wasim but that is off the subject.
About Ramiz introducing a new culture, he should have thought of that immediatly after the WC, if the likes of Inzi can still be in the side, Rashid too deserves that spot, he has been superb behind the stumps.
[quote]
Misbah has scored at an average of above 40 but he has played a lot less matches compared to Faisal Iqbal. Now is it because of regional discrimantion or becasue Faisal is realted to a big shot from Karachi????
[/quote]
Faisal Iqbal has been around for a while and he impressed the selectors during the Aussie test series, way before Miandad was the captain. And Miandad had no connections to PCB prior to his coaching job.
[quote]
Rashid was a good captain but he screwed up. No one told him to claim the catch when he knew it went out. I mean comeon everyone knew he lied. After the match he said he took the catch and then threw the ball to Inzi in slips, except he conveniently forgot to mention picking the ball from the ground before giving it to Inzi. It was all very clear in the reply. Rashid has been an honest player over the years but that does not mean you can believe everything he says.
[/QUOTE]
Just like Rashid many other captains have done similiar main examples are Ganguly @ WC final, appealing to catch that was never there against Ponting.
Ponting who himself appealed for a catch against Inzimam in one day series against Pak in June of last year, which was given out but later it was shown that he had dropped the catch.
I think it has already been decided that Latif's mistake was an honest one, he never actually appealed. He caught the catch and just got back up, and the umpire gave it out without any hesitations, it is the umpires who should have punished not the captain.
anybody but these two for captainship! first they should prove their form and consistency! younis can be suitable for captainship if he improves his batting (he is always LBW), but razzaq NO WAYS!!!
I'd like to make few points:
Regional problem does exists in Pakistan Cricket and it had played its worst role you could ever imagined but as of Rashid Latif's resignation, it has nothing to do with it.
The resignation of Rashid Latif came in over the disagreement with Aamir Sohail(who btw doesn't control his temper and takes the matter personally). It all happened when Aamir Sohail lashed out on Mohd. Hafeez in the dressing room in front of all players and Rashid gave Aamir piece of advice, walked out of the room. Clearly, Aamir Sohail was wrong(eh, has Mr. Sohail ever admitted his fault?) in humilating Hafeez in front of team players. He's a cheif selector and should have acted like one. If Aamir is so pissed off by Hafeez not playing good, he should have talked to him alone rather than insulting Hafeez in front of players.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
This Latif dude.. can't he make up his mind, once and for all. This on again/off again retirement game gets stale after a while.
[/QUOTE]
Err......Rashid made up his mind after WC 03 but then PCB persuaded him to go back on his retirement decision to lead a re-building Pakistan's side.
As for his coming back second time, I paged him two days ago and he agreed to play on. :)
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
....
Err......Rashid made up his mind after WC 03 but then PCB persuaded him to go back on his retirement decision to lead a re-building Pakistan's side.....
[/QUOTE]
This is not first time or 2nd time he's done that.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
As for his coming back second time, I paged him two days ago and he agreed to play on. :)
[/QUOTE]
oh you did that too :)
^^
Haan Jee! 
No one forced me to resign from captaincy: Rashid Latif
Inzamam can manage things well against SA and I want to concentrate on my own performance, says former skipper
KARACHI: Experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif who stepped down as Pakistan captain on Wednesday has made it clear that it was a decision he took on his own and no one pressurized him to resign.
**“There is lot of talk that the Chairman of the Board, Lt General Tauqir Zia pressurized me to resign as captain and leave cricket when I met him on Wednesday. I would like to clarify that the decision to resign and quit international cricket was my own. I had decided before the meeting that I didn’t want to continue,” Rashid said in an interview to ‘The News.’
“I don’t want to go into the reasons now why I decided to leave the captaincy or quit the game. Yes, it is true I was not satisfied with some cricketing matters in the team. But the decision to resign was my own Tauqir Zia didn’t tell me I had to resign or quit cricket,” he stated.
“I have never run after these things. I don’t want to be dishonest with myself or my job. I was feeling the pressure and was also unhappy with a few things. I decided it best to hand over the job to someone else,” Rashid explained.**
The veteran of 37 Tests and 161 One-day Internationals also made it clear that he took back his decision to quit the game after coming under pressure from my friends, fans and well-wishers.
**“Since it became public on Wednesday that I had resigned as captain and also quit international cricket, I was flooded with phone calls and e-mails and some people also came to my house demanding that I should not quit international cricket at this juncture,” **he explained.
Rashid said that after he took back his decision to quit the game, the Board Chairman had called him up on Thursday morning to confirm his availability and asked him to continue as a player.
Sources close to Rashid have also confirmed to ‘The News’ that he in fact had sent in his resignation as captain a week back to the Board headquarters in Lahore.
Rashid also admitted that during the meeting with the Chairman he had made cleared up his grievances over a number of issues that concerned the team.
“The chairman heard me patiently and understood my point of view. He also disagreed on a few things. He also had his say but at no stage did the meeting turn into an argument neither was it held in bad taste,” he added.
He conceded that he had been surprised by the reaction of his supporters and fans. “I didn’t realize I had so many people concerned about me. It makes me feel very happy.” Over 200 supporters on Thursday afternoon held a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club demanding the resignation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Lt. General Tauqir Zia and the reinstatement of Latif as captain for the South Africa series.
The demonstrators including women chanted loud slogans and held placards proclaiming “Go Tauqir go” and “Match-fixing mafia trying to unseat Latif”.
One of the organizers, one Mohammad Saleem claimed that the people involved in match-fixing and betting wanted to see the back of Rashid.
“Till he is in the team they know they can’t influence the players or the results of a match. That is why they want him out. But we won’t let this happen. We will hold more protests and rallies to make our point.”
Rashid blew the whistle in 1995 on some of his teammates including former captain Saleem Malik in South Africa and Zimbabwe after suspecting them of having a nexus with bookmakers.
His crusade against match-fixing which left many people unhappy including some Board officials did result in a detailed judicial inquiry into match-fixing in Pakistan and Justice Malik Qayyum placed a life ban on Saleem Malik and also fined five other players including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar for not cooperating with the inquiry.
Rashid again stunned the cricket world and the Pakistan board when in July he sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) warning them of the menace of fancy-fixing and asking them not to let up the fight against corruption in cricket. The PCB reprimanded him for writing directly to the ICC and releasing a statement to the press.
That incident is said to be the first step in the fall out and tensions between Rashid and the cricket establishment.
Rashid said he was feeling the pressure of being the captain and had decided it is best to step down. “I knew Inzamam could manage things well against South Africa,” he stated and added, “Now I want to concentrate on my own performance because it is going to be a tough series against the South Africans.” “It is going to be an exciting series. I think we have the side to beat them if everyone contributes and plays with discipline.”
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Pakistani fans make their feelings clear after the resignation of Rashid Latif © AFP