Rashid Latif calls to keep 90s players ‘away’ from Pak cricket

Former captain Rashid Latif has demanded to keep 90s cricketers, especially the 1992 World Cup-winning squad, away from Pakistan cricket.

The former wicketkeeper batter, while speaking in an interview, Pakistan’s inability to win ICC titles consistently.

Latif, in response, gave a shocking suggestion that the former cricketers from the 90s should be kept away from both management and the team.

“It took 17 years [for Pakistan to win another World Cup] because the 90s players did not spare Pakistan cricket,” said Latif.

“Keep 90s players away from management and from the team as well then they will try to win.

“They have been serving Pakistan cricket for so long now. So, I think, they should rest now.”

Rashid Latif’s remarks came just days after hosts and defending champions Pakistan were knocked out of the ongoing ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, just five days after the commencement of the tournament.

The green shirts kicked off their defence against New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament on February 19 in Karachi and suffered a 60-run defeat.

Pakistan then suffered a six-wicket drubbing at the hands of arch-rivals India, inspired by a combined bowling effort and star batter Virat Kohli’s masterful century.

Their last match was washed out against Bangladesh

Disappointed captaincy

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir shared his disbelief over a dip in wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan’s decision-making skills as the captain.

Amir revealed that he admired the wicketkeeper batter’s captaincy during domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but noted a change in his decision-making skills which makes his choices ‘unusual’.

“Mohammad Rizwan… You’ve gone from a Ferrari to a rickshaw now (laughs). At one point, I admired him because he had experience captaining domestic cricket and the PSL, where he led his team to the finals,” he said when asked about Rizwan’s captaincy.

“His decision-making changed completely. I’m not sure what caused this shift since I haven’t been in the dressing room with him during that period. His choices now seem unusual,” he added.

The left-arm pacer further shared that he anticipated Rizwan to bring a positive change in the team with his leadership and dismissed the notion that the captain has no authority over the selection of the players.

“It seemed he would bring about positive changes. However, within a few months, it felt like he had drifted away from the cricketing mindset,” he said.

“If Rizwan claims he had no authority over selections, that’s not entirely true. The same influence that helped him become captain could have been used to shape the team, but he didn’t take that step. I don’t understand why,” Mohammad Amir concluded.