Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif called for a major overhaul of the national team’s pace attack, specifically criticising left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi after the thumping defeat in the tri-nation ODI series opener against New Zealand.
Shaheen conceded 88 runs, including 25 runs in the final over of the innings, while taking three wickets in his quota of 10 overs.
Speaking on a private news channel, Rashid Latif demanded the removal of the main pacers including Shaheen from the team, questioning their match-winning potential.
Latif also expressed concerns about Naseem Shah, saying that despite playing for a long time, he hasn’t done much for Pakistan.
The former cricketer also pointed out that players like Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha are often easy targets for criticism, while the “big fishes” like Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah are not held accountable for their performances.
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He believes that if these senior players don’t perform, the rest of the team will also struggle. “Saud Shakeel and Tayyab Tahir will perform when the main players step up,” Latif said.
Latif emphasized the need to focus on the team’s fast bowling, given the condition of fielding and batting.
He also mentioned that Haris Rauf’s injury had a significant impact on the team’s performance, suggesting that things might have been different if he was fit.
Latif urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a fresh approach, with a focus on finding new bowlers and holding the senior players accountable for their performances.
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