The emergence of T20 cricket has given the sport some fresh greats of the game. Among the modern superstars, Rashid Khan has truly emerged as a game-changer. When it comes to white-ball cricket, the Afghanistan spinner is arguably considered the greatest in modern times, especially in T20 cricket. While comparisons across different eras of the game make it difficult to assess which player has had a greater impact, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has claimed that Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan is a ‘greater cricketer’ than his country’s own Wasim Akram, the man considered by many as the greatest fast bowler of all time.

The assessment from Latif comes from the point of view that Rashid had a bigger role to play in putting Afghanistan on the global cricketing map in comparison to Wasim who was one of the several superstars in the Pakistan team at that time.

“Rashid has brought Afghanistan on the map, he has helped them get recognition,” he said on Hasna Mana hai show on Geo News. “He is greater than Wasim Akram. I am sorry to say but Rashid’s stature is bigger.”

Rashid, however, hasn’t been able to create as much impact in Test cricket as he has in T20s. The spinner, who plays in T20 leagues across the globe, is among the top wicket-takers, almost in every country he has played in. But, in red-ball cricket, he has struggled to make a name for himself. But, that’s also because of Afghanistan’s weak representation in Tests.

“I have only one piece of advice for Rashid Khan. ‘Improve your Test team and play more Test matches against Pakistan,'” Latif further said.

Rashid and his team will be hoping to create a bigger impact as they play in the ICC Champions Trophy, starting February 19.

Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fareeh Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran, Noor Ahmad.

File image of Shaheen Afridi.© AFP

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has urged his team to focus on playing an attacking brand of cricket in next month’s ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan are hosting their first ICC event after a gap of 28 years, the last being the 1996 World Cup. However, the eight-team competition will only see seven teams including Pakistan playing in the country as India to play all their matches in Dubai. Pakistan will enter the marquee tournament as defending champions having defeated India in the 2017 edition’s final. Latif feels that the home side should focus on their preparations and not think about India not travelling to Pakistan for the tournament.

“These are exciting times for a cricket-crazy nation. The world’s top teams will be participating in this mega event,” Rashid told Pakistan English Daily Dawn.

“I commend the efforts of the Pakistan government and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their relentless lobbying with the International Cricket Council (ICC), ensuring that Pakistan gets the opportunity to host this tournament. India will play their matches in the UAE, and that is their business; Pakistan should focus solely on playing attacking cricket,” he added.

Latif expressed confidence in Pakistan’s spin prowess keeping them ahead in the home conditions.

“I am confident that our players will seize the opportunity to play in home conditions. We have quality spinners like mystery bowler Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Faisal Akram. Additionally, Salman Ali Agha is a valuable asset,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the former cricketer also shared his concerns regarding Pakistan’s opening pair as Saim Ayub is recovering from his ankle fracture sustained during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

“I am worried about Saim Ayub’s injury, and with Abdullah Shafique also out of form, we are left in a bit of a dilemma,” he said. He also pointed out that in recent years, Pakistan experimented with several opening combinations, including Abdullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, and Shan Masood.

“While all of these players are talented, finding the right combination could be a challenge. I am unsure what the selectors are thinking, but perhaps they will opt for Fakhar and Shan Masood as the opening pair. We’ll have to wait and see,” he remarked.

Latif termed India a “strong team” but backed England, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa as formidable opponents for Pakistan. “India is a strong team, but I believe these four teams could pose a greater challenge,” he said.

Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the tournament opener in Karachi on February 19 while the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India will take place in Dubai on February 23.

Rashid Latif and Younis Khan© X (Twitter)

Representative Image© AFP

Pakistan’s limited-overs team was leaderless on Wednesday after captain Babar Azam resigned, compounding a management crisis experts say has badly affected the team’s international performance. Pakistani cricket is flailing in all formats after a series of stinging losses, with a revolving door of bosses and allegations that nepotism has seeped into the sport. Azam announced his resignation on his personal social media just before midnight on Tuesday, before an official Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement more than 12 hours later.

Pakistan cricket has ploughed through four coaches, three board heads and four captains in the past two years, at the same time sliding down international standings.

“It’s a leadership crisis,” former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif told AFP. “Pakistan cricket is in the ICU with no specialist for treatment.”

Azam’s resignation came hours before England touched down on Wednesday for a three-match Test series that follows Pakistan’s humiliating 2-0 home series defeat to lowly ranked Bangladesh last month.

It was 29-year-old Azam’s second turn as captain after a flip-flop saw him resign in all three formats following Pakistan’s early exit from the ODI World Cup in November.

He returned in March to captain white-ball competitions but lasted just six months, leaving Pakistan leaderless with four major series coming up and the Champions Trophy next year.

Azam was captain when Pakistan crashed out of the T20 World Cup after a bruising loss to newcomers the United States.

He said he stood down to focus on his playing role as a batsman.

“He should not have accepted captaincy again,” Latif said. 

“Neither the team was performing nor was he scoring big,” he said. “This resignation has come very late and that has not only cost him badly, but also the team.”

The PCB said on Wednesday the national selection committee would begin the hunt for a successor.

“He believes that dedicating himself fully to his batting will enable him to play a more decisive role in the team’s success in the shorter formats,” a PCB statement said.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is considered the front-runner for the job.

Azam is slated to play in the England Test series starting in Multan on Monday, but red-ball skipper Shan Masood is also facing calls to step down over dire performances.

Pakistan has lost all five matches under his tenure, which began last year.

File photo of Babar Azam© AFP

As Pakistan cricket goes through one of its toughest periods, Babar Azam is one player who is in the thick of criticism the men’s national team is getting. A 0-2 Test series defeat at the hands of Bangladesh at home is being labelled as the national team’s worst in the longest format by many. One of the reasons behind Pakistan’s poor show on the 22-yard pitch is the underperformance of top players like Babar Azam. While many former Pakistan cricketers have criticised Babar over the last few weeks, Basit Ali advised the star batter to get married.

“Babar Azam, talk to your parents and get married. He will be a completely different man after that. I know how a player feels when he is not performing well. I request Babar’s parents to get him to marry. Like an elder brother, I want him to tell him Shaadi kar le bhai, ab umar zyada ho gayi hai teri (Get married brother, you are now old enough),” Basit Ali said in a video on his YouTube channel.

After the conclusion of last year’s ODI World Cup, Pakistan toured Australia for a three-match Test series. Pakistan endured a whitewash after being outplayed in all facets of the game. After the conclusion of the series, Pakistan’s batters were left exposed following their performances. Babar was among the players who came under the scrutiny of fans as well as former cricketers. During the three Tests, Babar mustered up 126 runs at an average of 21.

Before the T20 World Cup, Pakistan toured England to play four T20Is. In two matches, Babar racked up 68 runs across his name at an average of 34.00. In the T20 World Cup, Babar once again was left exposed after falling short with his bat. In four matches, he garnered 122 runs at an average of 40.66.

But he was heavily criticised for his below-par strike rate of 101.66. In their recently-concluded 2-match Test series against Bangladesh, in four innings, Babar produced just 64 runs from his bat.

“This is a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket. They can’t go lower than this. Now, it’s the time to rise and open your eyes. If you still don’t open your eyes after losing to Bangladesh, play Test series only against Nepal and Afghanistan. Pakistan have learned a lesson and it will benefit them,” Latif said.

The Pakistan cricket team hit one of its lowest points in cricketing history, losing at home to Bangladesh in the 2-match Test series. Pakistan were swept aside by the tourists who produced one of their most memorable triumphs of all time. Though there remain a few personnel in the Pakistan team who have been drawing fans and experts’ ire, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn’t been immune from criticism either. In fact, former Pakistan star Rashid Latif feels it’s the Pakistan Board and its recent chairmen who deserve the most blame.

“Jitne bhi chairman aaye hain, woh tabah kar rahe hain last four years se (whoever became the chairman in the last four years has demolished Pakistan cricket),” Latif said on his show ‘Caught Behind’.

“Who brought him (Shan Masood) as (Test) captain? Who removed Babar Azam (from captaincy)? Who divided the Pakistan team?” Latif questioned in his rant against the PCB. “So what is he doing at this juncture? Giving interviews?”.

Thank You Zaka Ashraf Saheb #PAKvsBAN pic.twitter.com/GO8NjvPSPT

— Rashid Latif (@iRashidLatif68) September 3, 2024

The PCB’s long-term vision has also been questioned by many, especially with regards to the recent captaincy changes. Babar Azam was removed as skipper from all formats, before being reinstated as the white-ball skipper.

Latif also targeted former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf who had replaced Babar Azam with Shaheen Afridi as the team’s T20I and ODI skipper.

“Team banana kis ka kaam hai. Zaka Ashraf ka ya Misbah ka? (whose responsibility is it to make the team – Ashraf or Misbah’s)” said Latif, questioning the role of Misbah-ul-Haq who served as an advisor to Ashraf and also headed a cricket committee.

“When he (Ashraf) was doing everything, making team and appointing captains, who is he blaming then – Babar?” Latif further said. “You forcibly made Babar resign. The team started disintegrating from there itself. It was you who made Shan the captain for your own benefit, to break the team. So your team is broken now.”

“Those who did the damage and left, how will they be held accountable? Chairman-ship should never be honorary. These guys are not audited. It should be written in the (PCB) Constitution that you (chairman) can’t appoint a captain, can’t form a selection committee,” Latif continued.

“You have given the entire power into the hands of a chairman. They know nothing about cricket.”

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was denied the leadership role as Team India made a shock captaincy pick in Suryakumar Yadav for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Hardik’s snub and Suryakumar’s elevation as captain has sparked a big debate in the cricketing fraternity. Over the past couple of years, Hardik led India in the absence of captain Rohit Sharma, and was also assigned the vice-captaincy for the recently concluded T20 World Cup, which India won after beating South Africa in the final in Barbados.

Suryakumar, on the other hand, led India last year during the T20I series’ against Australia and South Africa.

While Rohit Sharma announced his T20I retirement last month, Hardik didn’t even get the vice-captaincy, with the selectors picking Shubman Gill for that role in both T20Is and ODIs.

Speaking in a press conference, India chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that fitness and availability for all matches was the reason why the national selectors opted for Suryakumar, and not Hardik, who has had a history of injury concerns.

Amid the ongoing debate, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has lashed out at the Indian selectors, saying that fitness is just an excuse for not making Hardik the captain.

“No, here they (the claims) should just hand him a certificate saying he isn’t fit and there are concerns about his fitness. There are plenty of players who weren’t super fit but still became great captains. So, I think it was just an excuse. Because if Surya wasn’t around, then Rishabh (Pant) would have been the captain since you have to look at the future,” Latif said on his YouTube channel.

The first T20I of the three-match series will begin on July 27 in Pallekele, followed by matches on July 28 and 30 at the same venue.

India’s T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.