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More problems to Shoaib than injury
Rashid Latif stated in a TV programme on Thursday that the 'Rawalpindi Express' was having problems with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Shoaib Akhtar's confinement to the dressing room all through the day's play yesterday, even as Pakistan struggled to contain the Indian batting juggernaut, might not just be due to an injury.
Under fire for "ditching" the team when it needed him the most, the controversial bowler is sure to kick up a storm again after former captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif stated in a TV programme on Thursday night that the 'Rawalpindi Express' was having problems with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Latif said Shoaib called him up over the phone to "share his misery" and tell him that he was not getting the field placements that he wanted and that was why he had not been much successful against the Indians in the series, local daily The News reported.
Losing no time after getting the phone call from Shoaib, Latif revealed all the miseries and vows of the bowler in the programme which was anchored by former cricketer Sikander Bakth.
Latif directly challenged Inzamam and Miandad's authority in the team and hinted that some other players were also complaining about problems in the team.
Latif had earned the PCB's ire earlier in the series when he suggested that the Lahore one-dayer could have been fixed.
Reacting to latest tirade by Latif, PCB CEO Rameez Raja questioned the former captain's motive in stating such things on air and said the Board would take it up with Shoaib on this issue.
"We are certainly going to ask Shoaib about this because it is not good for the dressing room atmosphere. And how can Rashid be so irresponsible to discuss such things in public," Raja was quoted as saying in the media.
Raja said Shoaib and some other players had just failed to show more responsibility.
"Shoaib was a disappointment. He must realise that he can't just survive on reputation alone, performance also matters a lot. For someone of his reputation one or two wickets don't matter, he needed to do more than that for the team."
The PCB CEO said while the series had been a big success in every other way, the performance of the team had certainly come as a dampener.
Shoaib has also came under flak from the media for not taking to the field yesterday when the team needed him badly.
The speed demon is also certain to ruffle a few more feathers when he sets out to India to take part in an ad campaign, also featuring Indian cricketers and film stars.
