Pakistan’s recent exit from the Champions Trophy has drawn sharp criticism from former captain Rashid Latif, who indirectly blamed cricketing legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis for the national team’s poor performance.
Despite hosting the tournament, Pakistan failed to register a single win, leading to their early group-stage exit last month.
Rashid Latif, speaking on Geo News’ programme “Harna Mana Hai,” urged past players, particularly those from the 1990s, to distance themselves from the team’s management.
He said, “It took 17 years for Pakistan to win another World Cup because the players from the 90s did not let Pakistan cricket thrive. Keep them away from management and the team, and perhaps we’ll see improvement. They’ve served long enough; it’s time they step aside.”
This stance was reiterated during Latif’s appearance on the YouTube show “Caught Behind,” where he took aim at Akram and Waqar. Referring to them as “Dubai boys,” a remark directed at their roles as commentators stationed in the UAE for the tournament, Latif accused them of profiting off Pakistan cricket while contributing little to its development.
He commented, “These ‘Dubai boys’ have wreaked havoc. They spent their careers fighting, which harmed Pakistan cricket. They will do anything for money.”
After their disappointing Champions Trophy run, Pakistan’s cricket team is set to tour New Zealand later this month. The series will feature five T20Is followed by three ODIs, starting from March 16.
In a major shift, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dropped key players Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam from the T20I squad, naming Salman Agha as the new captain with Shadab Khan as his deputy.
The ODI squad remains relatively unchanged, except for the notable absence of Shaheen Afridi. Both Rizwan and Babar will retain their spots for the 50-over format.
