Rashid Latif: “The ground that has produced Shoaib Akhtar has now closed. During our time, there were 12 grounds nearby. The ground that gave us seven captains from Lahore has now [been] converted [into a] road”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif has expressed his concerns about the cricketing infrastructure in the country, noting “the ground that has produced Shoaib Akhtar has now closed”.
Akhtar is one of the fastest and scariest bowlers Pakistan has ever produced and still holds the record for the quickest delivery ever bowled in international cricket at 161.3 kph (100.2 mph).
Latif added that another ground, which “gave us seven captains from Lahore” has been transformed into a road.
“There is no infrastructure of sports in the country, and the players are putting merely their own efforts to uplift [it]. The ground that has produced Shoaib Akhtar has now closed. During our time, there were 12 grounds nearby. The ground that gave us seven captains from Lahore has now [been] converted [into a] road,” he was quoted as saying by Samaa TV.
The Pakistan team recently went up against Bangladesh in a two-Test series and lost 2-0.
Their next assignment will see them play three Tests against England from October 7 to 28.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi