** Rashid to captain Pakistan in Tests as well as one-dayers: PCB **
KARACHI: Any confusion or question mark surrounding the availability of Rashid Latif for the eight Test matches Pakistan is scheduled to play this season were removed on Friday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made it clear that the Chairman Lt. General Tauqir Zia had appointed the captain, coach and manager for a one year period after the World Cup as he realized that atleast a year was required for the rebuilding process.
“And obviously the one-year tenure includes all the eight Tests and minimum 30 One-day Internationals that the team is scheduled to play between April 2003 and January 2004,” a PCB spokesman explained.
Rashid Latif had conveyed to the Board when he was appointed as captain after the World Cup that he would also be playing in all the Test matches," he added. “The Board Chairman wanted the team management to have enough time at their disposal to work with new players and settle upon the right combination.” There have been reports in recent days raising doubts over Rashid’s availability for the Test matches as the senior-wicketkeeper batsman had announced his retirement from Test cricket after the tour of Zimbabwe last year in October.
But Rashid said in Karachi that he had said before that he has come out of retirement to take part in the rebuilding process of the national team and this includes the Test matches.
“Obviously you can’t expect me to selectively just play the One-day Internationals this season and skip the Tests when the team is being rebuilt and new players are being introduced.”
“I will definitely be playing in the Tests because this was what the Board wanted that I should be available to captain the side for all matches until January 2004 and I myself want to play all these Tests,” he added.
Pakistan plays eight Tests between August and January against Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand. Rashid said that he was working hard on his fitness because he was aware that the Pakistan team had a gruelling schedule ahead of them from August onwards. “I am preparing myself for both the Tests and One-day Internationals,” he stated.
So Rashid has taken his retirement from Test back. It would be interesting to see how he handles it as he has been getting injured even playing in ODI’s. Five day cricket will but extra burden on him.