Rashid Latif, a former wicketkeeper of Pakistan, has asked Pakistan to focus on attacking cricket during next month’s ICC Champions Trophy. This is Pakistan’s first hosting of an ICC event in 28 years since the 1996 World Cup. In this tournament of 8 teams, only 7 teams including Pakistan will play there as India will be playing all its matches in Dubai. Pakistan will enter the tournament as the defending champions, having beaten India in the final of the last edition in 2017. Rashid believes the home team should concentrate on their preparations rather than dwell on the fact that India will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
“Those are exciting days for a cricket-crazy nation. The best cricket playing nations are participating in this marquee event ,” Rashid told Pakistani English Daily Dawn.
“I commend the Pakistan government and PCB for all their efforts to work behind the scenes with the International Cricket Council to get the arrangement worked out so that Pakistan can host the tournament. India will do business in the UAE; it is their business; Pakistan should only be concerned about attacking cricket,” he added.
Latif expressed confidence in the spinners of Pakistan staying ahead of their opponents on home soil.
“I am confident our players will grab the opportunity to play in their home conditions. We have world-class spinners-Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Faisal Akram. Also, Salman Ali Agha is an important asset,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ex-cricketer voiced his concerns about Pakistan’s opening pair, with Saim Ayub recovering from an ankle fracture sustained during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
“I am worried about Saim Ayub’s injury, and Abdullah Shafique is also not in form; so that creates a little bit of a headache for us here,” he said. He also pinpointed that, in recent years, Pakistan has tried out numerous opening combinations such as Abdullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, and Shan Masood.
“While these players are good, it might be hard to have a Par-excellence pairing. What is on the selectors’ minds, I am not so sure, but maybe they are thinking of going with Fakhar and Shan Masood as the opening pair. We should see,” he said.
Latif termed India as a “strong team” but pointed to the big four – England, New Zealand, and Australia – as formidable opponents for Pakistan. “India is a strong team, but I believe these four teams could pose a greater challenge,” he remarked.
Pakistan will play New Zealand in the tournament opener in Karachi on February 19, while the much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals India will be in Dubai on February 23.
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