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Pakistan's recent struggles in international cricket have triggered widespread criticism, particularly after their historic Test series loss against Bangladesh. Former wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), specifically targeting the chairmen who have overseen the team's decline over the past four years.
Latif, known for his outspoken nature, alleges that the PCB chairmen have been responsible for the team's downfall. He criticizes the frequent captaincy changes, citing the removal of Babar Azam, the brief tenure of Shaheen Shah Afridi, and the subsequent appointment of Shan Masood as Test captain. Latif believes these changes have disrupted team unity and contributed to the team's poor performance.
Zaka Ashraf, the former PCB chairman during the period of these captaincy changes, defends his decisions, arguing that they were made in the best interests of the team. He maintains that Babar was asked to play as a player because his captaincy performance wasn't satisfactory. However, Latif remains unconvinced, claiming that Ashraf's decisions were motivated by personal gain and that he intentionally undermined the team's unity.
Latif also questions the role of former captain, coach, and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq, who later served as an advisor to Ashraf. He argues that Misbah should share responsibility for the team's struggles, highlighting the conflicting responsibilities within the PCB and the lack of a clear strategy for team building. Latif argues that the PCB has given too much power to the chairman, who often lacks a deep understanding of cricket.
Bangladesh's historic win over Pakistan has exacerbated the criticism and brought the PCB's leadership under further scrutiny. Latif calls for accountability, arguing that the chairmen should not be immune to scrutiny and that the PCB's constitution should be amended to prevent the chairman from having absolute power over team decisions.