Over a week has passed since the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, made a harsh statement comparing the Pakistan cricket team’s state to open heart surgery. Now, former wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has made another incendiary statement.
Pakistan, who were strong favourites to join India in the Super Eight, suffered an unanticipated loss. In their first match of the season, they lost shockingly to the co-hosts in the Super Over, going up against rookies USA, Canada, and Ireland. Their inability to take advantage of their strong position for the most of the game against their bitter rivals also begs serious concerns about their performance and jeopardises their hopes of qualifying. Even though they defeated Canada by seven wickets, their league finale against Ireland is essentially a pointless exhibition.
Before we shift blame to the players, first the PCB & its governing body needs to be sacked! They are the people responsible for selecting the players & management for this tour, and training them physically & mentally for the T20 WC!
Heads must roll! But would they??? https://t.co/p6fVLXIJda
— Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera (@ansukhera) June 14, 2024
Rashid Latif reposted Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera’s tweet, a former cabinet secretary to the Pakistani government and ardent cricket fan, to show his full support for his viewpoint even though he did not tweet personally. In reaction to a statement made by Rizwan Ali, who stated that there should be no justifications for this shameful withdrawal, Sukhera declared that the Pakistan Cricket Board and its associated regulating organisations have to be fired prior to placing the blame on the players.
Also read: “There are three groups in the team”—PCB source says Babar Azam failed as Pakistan captain again
He stressed that these organisations had chosen the players and management for this tour and had been in charge of getting them ready for the T20 World Cup on a mental and physical level. As he concluded, Sukhera raised a rhetorical question on whether or not such accountability would be implemented.
Pakistan’s planned white-ball series against Australia in November will not take place for five months. They need to deal with a lot of things at this time, and they should use the break as an opportunity to make big changes that will affect every level of staff.
India
