Extended hangover of CT 2017 win has affected Pakistan's performances: Rashid Latif

Former Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper Rashid Latif came down heavily on the Pakistan team management and selectors on Thursday saying they celebrated the Champions Trophy victory for far too long, ignoring the dipping performance in Test cricket. Pakistan were recently drubbed 3-0 by South Africa in the three-match Test series and it followed a 1-2 loss to New Zealand at home.

Pakistan had their second biggest success in 50-over format after the 1992 World Cup win in Australia when they lifted their maiden Champions Trophy title, defeating arch-rivals India in a one-sided final in England in 2017. However, the very win was seen as a fluke after Pakistan were hammered twice by the same opponents in the Asia Cup in the UAE, the Men in Green’s home country in cricket, last September.

“One of the main problems was the extended hangover of the 2017 Champions Trophy triumph. Captain, coaches, management, selection committee or the board, everybody was under the influence of the historic feat longer than required,” eminent Pakistan daily Dawn quoted Latif as saying.

Pakistan have lost eight of 13 Tests they played since CT win

Pakistan have played 13 Tests since the historic win in the Champions Trophy final, winning only four and losing eight. Their last success came against Australia in a two-match series at home preceding the stunning loss to the Kiwis.

Rashid Latif, who once had a healthy competition for a spot in the Pakistan national side with the more accomplished Moin Khan and has a Test hundred to his credit, took a dig at the selectors and team management saying they had not taken enough preparation for the Test series in South Africa and lost all the games, the second such instance after 2013.

“Preparations were not up to the mark. In the first Test, Azhar Ali came to bat at number four, who never played at this slot. In the second innings of the second Test, Azhar was pulled back at number three while Fakhar Zaman batted at number six. This is the reflection of bad preparation and is indicative of the fact that Pakistan lacked middle-order batsmen on the challenging tour,” Latif said.

He added that players like Usman Salahuddin and Saad Ali were being carried around for the last one year but not given proper chances and eventually dropped for the high-profile series against South Africa. The 50-year-old also questioned the decision of including Shan Masood in the ODI squad.

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