Speaking to PakPassion.net; Latif who represented Pakistan on 203 occasions feels that the squad is a balanced one, but the selectors have made a glaring error in leaving out experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf.

 by Saj Sadiq

25 January 2011

Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif is someone who has never been reluctant to voice an opinion on cricketing matters and when Pakistan's 15 man World Cup squad was announced recently, Latif certainly was a surprised man.

Speaking to PakPassion.net; Latif who represented Pakistan on 203 occasions feels that the squad is a balanced one, but the selectors have made a glaring error in leaving out experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf.

"Looking through the squad chosen by the selectors I would say it's a balanced squad considering which players were available. However the mistake the selectors have made is leaving out Mohammad Yousuf. I would have chosen Yousuf ahead of Sohail Tanvir."

Latif who has made a fantastic start as coach of the Afghanistan side also feels that the issue of the captain not being named by the Pakistan Cricket Board is one that is as a result of disagreements within the PCB. 

"Other boards have named their skipper with the squad, yet the Pakistan Cricket Board has chosen not to select a captain which is extremely strange. However I think the reason for this is down to the disagreements within the Board and the fact that the team management and the Board don't want Shahid Afridi to be selected as captain for the World Cup. The Board are also of course waiting to see how the one day series in New Zealand develops, but I get the impression that there are also disagreements amongst the players with Shahid Afridi which is a sad state of affairs for Pakistan."

Misbah ul Haq is being widely tipped as the man to take over the captaincy at the World Cup, having scored six consecutive half centuries in his last 6 test innings and also having led Pakistan to a test series draw against South Africa and an away test series victory in New Zealand. Whilst Misbah's fortunes have been favourable, Afridi's luck has turned for the worse with one day series defeats to South Africa and England as well as a crushing and embarrassing defeat in the first one day international in New Zealand. 

In addition to Afridi's on-field problems, stories have emerged of team management and team mates of Afridi not being happy with his leadership and man management, which resulted in Afridi being summoned by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt prior to him departing for the shores of New Zealand. 

Latif though feels that the issue of captaincy has been handled poorly and if Misbah was indeed the man the board wanted to captain the side at the World Cup, then he should have been given the job earlier.

"The captain for the World Cup should be Shahid Afridi, but if the Board had wanted to select Misbah as skipper then they should have appointed him much earlier instead of this indecision weeks before the World Cup. It's really surprising to see what's going on."

Pakistan's solitary World Cup title win in the 50 over format was in 1992 when Imran Khan's Cornered Tigers surprised the cricketing world by beating England in the final, in a tournament where the momentum certainly swung Pakistan's way as the tournament progressed. Whilst expectations are low from Pakistan fans this time around, Latif feels that the format could favour Pakistan and they shouldn't be written off despite the ongoing issues and key players missing.

"Pakistan cannot be written off as the format suits them. They are a team, who on their day are capable of beating anyone and once the quarter finals start, then it's a straight knockout and it all depends on the team that performs on the day. The knockout stage is where Pakistan could excel. Two good performances in the knockout stage and Pakistan could find themselves in the World Cup Final."

While India hold the home advantage and have a well balanced squad which has made them the choice of many pundits to repeat their win of 1983, Latif feels that Pakistan cannot be written off.

"England and South Africa are chokers and I would expect them to fall in the knockout stages of the tournament, whereas the likes of Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India are much better in the knockout stages of major tournaments. Pakistan have throughout their history raised their game for one-off knockout matches and I feel this tournament will be no different."

Latif who was not part of the 1992 World Cup winning Pakistan squad is fully aware that some of Pakistan's big names will really have to raise their game in the World Cup and he has earmarked Umar Akmal as a player who could become that hero that the nation is looking for.

"The World Cup is a time for heroes to be made. Pakistan's strongest World Cup squad was undoubtedly the 1999 World Cup squad which lost in the final to Australia. Pakistan played their best World Cup cricket under Wasim Akram in 1999. This time around if Umar Akmal is utilised properly then he can show once again that he is one of the best players in the Pakistan team at the moment. He (Umar Akmal) is not being allowed to play his natural game. I suggest he is allowed to play his natural game which is an attacking one and he will show the world what a talented player he is.” 

“Asad Shafiq and Ahmed Shehzad are also good batsmen who I think could do well. Also Saeed Ajmal will be a key performer for Pakistan. I have concerns over Abdul Razzaq at the moment though as his role in the side is not clear. He's not completing 10 overs, so he should therefore be played as a batting all rounder, instead of a bowling all rounder. His role in the team is confusing me."

Pakistan are in Group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya, the latter who will be Pakistan's first opponents on 23rd February.