Rashid Latif was a wicketkeeper batsman who was selected to play in Tests for his batting potential. He became famous for his controversial acts rather than the cricketing deeds.
During Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe in 1994-95, he developed an opinion that something fishy is in progress under Salim Malik’s captaincy and hence he declared his retirement. He provided sufficient evidence to Judge Qayyum’s inquiry and returned as Mr Clean to lead the team. In the 1997-98 tour of South Africa, everything was progressing well for him, but he found that some senior players did not desire that things should get altered.
He was chosen in the national team again during the 2001 tour of England and as Pakistan performed disastrously in the 2003 World Cup, Waqar Younis was sacked and Latif was again made the captain. During the series against Bangladesh, he wrongly claimed a catch and hence he was suspended for five matches.
The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed Latif as wicketkeeping coach in June 2008.
Career Highlights
Rashid Latif took part in 166 ODIs in which he batted in 117 innings and remained not out 29 times. He accumulated 1709 runs with 79 as his highest score. His batting average was 19.42 and batting strike rate was 76.39. He bashed 18 sixers, 125 boundaries and 3 half centuries. As a wicketkeeper, he took 182 catches and stumped 38 batsmen.
