If Pakistan lose World Cup, the board will blame Kirsten or Babar Azam: Rashid Latif

Rashid Latif and Babar Azam. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie as head coaches for the white-ball and red-ball cricket teams, respectively. The duo will serve for two years each. However, the timing stirred debate as the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is around the corner. Former Pakistan player Rashid Latif voiced concern over the late appointments, fearing criticism if the coaches falter on the big stage.

On Thursday, PCB unveiled the 18-player squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland, slated from May 10 to 14. Following that, the England series runs from May 22 to 30. The squad will trim to 15 players for the World Cup 2024 after the first T20I at Leeds on May 22 to meet the ICC’s May 24 deadline.

“Gary Kirsten has been a successful coach for India, and also in franchise cricket. But timing (of his appointment) is wrong, the problem that has always arisen in Pakistan is timing. This is above my head… Next month we are going to the World Cup. On the road to the World Cup, we are playing 7 matches. The time is very short. If they lose, the board will blame Kirsten or Babar Azam. This is our tradition. I will not blame Babar or Kirsten,” Rashid said as quoted by NDTV Sports.

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You should have known all this 6-8 months or even a year in advance: Rashid

The Men’s National Selection Committee has brought back fast bowler Haris Rauf, along with all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha, in the 18-player squad. Not making the cut from the original 17-player squad against New Zealand are wrist spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan. The Babar Azam-led side will head to Dublin on May 7 after a three-day training camp in Lahore from May 4-6.

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“Today, if I know that this is my head coach, this is my captain and this is my selection committee… Momentum is like what happens in Australia, India, England that they know these are our 12-13 certain players and this is my coach. You should have known all this 6-8 months or even a year in advance,” Rashid added.