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Latif in hot water over critical interview
Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif faces disciplinary action for criticising PCB and its policies in a critical television interview, an official said Friday.
Former Pakistan cricket captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif faces disciplinary action for criticising Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its policies in a critical television interview, an official said Friday.
"Latif has been served a show cause notice for a television interview and the PCB disciplinary committee headed by Justice (retired) Amir Alam will hear the case on a date to be announced later," said PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan.
Latif, whose fight against match fixing has put his career at risk, admitted that he breached the players' code of conduct but stands by claims aired Thursday night that the board's selection process was frought with inconcistencies.
"I couldn't wait and told the public whatever I felt was wrong," Latif told AFP.
"The coach Javed Miandad and then chairman PCB Tauqir Zia intervened in the selection process and that detracked the rebuilding process which started off well," Latif had said.
He also criticised the PCB's chief selector Aamir Sohail and Javed in a newspaper column earlier this week.
Latif, who has played 166 one-dayers and 37 Tests for Pakistan, pulled out of the two-match Test series against South Africa last month.
He was asked to abandon retirement plans and lead Pakistan's revamped side after their first round exit from the World Cup in March.
He led Pakistan in the quadrangular tournament win in Sharjah, to a runners-up spot in a tri-series in Sri Lanka in May and then a 2-1 loss in the one-day series in England in June.
But during the England tour he wrote the International Cricket Council that match fixing is still problematic in international cricket and was reprimanded by the PCB.
"Speaking truth in Pakistan cricket is a sin," Latif said, adding that he regretted coming out of retirement, saying he was only used as a tool in the rebuilding process.
He was suspended for five one-day matches on claiming an unfair catch in the Multan Test against Bangladesh two months ago which followed his resignation from the captaincy.
He was left out of the team which faces New Zealand in a five-match one-day series next week.
