Rashid Latif: “When you have made a commitment, I think you shouldn’t go against your contract. I understand that everyone has their preferences but you have closed the door for other Pakistan players with this decision”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has criticised batsman Usman Khan’s decision to revert his allegiance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan.
Usman’s decision to do so came after the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 430 runs in seven matches for the Multan Sultans, which included two centuries and two fifties, at an average of 107.50 and a strike-rate of 164.12.
The 28-year-old subsequently made his international debut in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and scored 59 runs in five games at an average of 14.75 and a strike-rate of 122.91.
However, his choice to turn his back on the UAE didn’t sit well with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) as he was banned for five years. This means Usman cannot play in the ILT20, the Abu Dhabi T10, or any other ECB-affiliated tournaments that take place in the UAE until 2029.
Latif also lashed out at Usman, saying his decision “closed the door for other Pakistan players.”
“When you have made a commitment, I think you shouldn’t go against your contract. I understand that everyone has their preferences but you have closed the door for other Pakistan players with this decision,” he said on his YouTube channel as quoted by Geo Super.
“UAE won’t trust Pakistan players going forward and this is also why they banned Usman for five years. Indian and Sri Lankans will increasingly migrate to UAE now because of lack in trust when it comes to Pakistan players.
“Anyways, you can’t stop a player from making such a decision. He has the right to play wherever he wants.”
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Ireland from May 10 to 14.
After that, they will play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
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Playing for Pakistan brings joy whereas playing for UAE or any other country is for the sake of money only. So Rashid should refrain from giving harsh comments.