In a recent statement that has stirred conversations, former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif voiced his opinion on Pakistan’s ongoing cricketing ties with India.
Latif suggested that Pakistan should consider suspending its cricket relations with India until both countries can resolve their long-standing political issues.
The comments come amidst escalating tensions as India remains unwilling to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing security concerns.
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What did Rashid Latif say about halting Cricket between Pakistan and India?
Latif strongly advocated for Pakistan to stop playing cricket against India if the situation remains unresolved, noting that such a step could be impactful.
He remarked, “There’s a big possibility that Pakistan can stop playing cricket against India. Had I been in power, then, yes, I may have taken this strong step. If you don’t want to play [in Pakistan], then don’t play against us [at all].”
His views show the frustration building up within Pakistan, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the Champions Trophy that was initially scheduled to take place in Pakistan.
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Why does Rashid Latif believe the ICC should take action?
Latif also urged the ICC to step in, arguing that it should temporarily suspend hosting rights for both India and Pakistan until the two countries settle their political differences.
“In my opinion, ICC should withhold the hosting rights for both countries until these issues between them are resolved; until their problems are settled,” he explained
Citing instances when Sri Lanka Cricket and Zimbabwe Cricket faced suspensions due to political interference, he raised concerns about inconsistencies in the ICC’s policies. “Why aren’t India and Pakistan getting banned? Because ICC has a lot of stake on them,” he commented.
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How did Rashid Latif respond to BCCI’s security concerns?
Latif was particularly critical of the BCCI’s justification for not sending the Indian team to Pakistan, dismissing it as “weak”.
He elaborated, “This is the first time, I would say, the BCCI is at fault. The reason they are stating is very weak. It has to be in writing that the BCCI and the Indian cricket team is feeling threatened”.
He questioned why, if the ICC’s security team had already cleared Pakistan to host the Champions Trophy, the BCCI would still object.
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He continued, “The ICC security team came here and gave the green light for the tournament. If you had issues, you could have reported to them.”
