Rashid Latif Snubs calls of Foul Play
Afghanistan’s national coach Rashid Latif has reacted strongly to the rumours suggesting that the match between Pakistan and Afghanistan was fixed, which the two teams played in the recently concluded Asian games in China.
The Afghan underdogs beat the favourites Pakistan in the semi-final, crushing their hopes of clinching a gold medal in their debut cricket event.
Latif, who has played as a wicketkeeper for Pakistan, was hired as the head coach for Afghanistan recently. The outstanding performance by his side has left everyone in shock after they pulverised the Pakistanis.
Pakistan, then later clinched a bronze by defeating Sri Lanka and Afghanistan settled for silver because they were defeated by Bangladesh in the battle for the gold medal.
Latif is tremendously happy by the efforts of his young side and believes that the minnows will become a force to be reckoned with in the future. He has seen tremendous talent in Afghanistan and feels the presence of passion for cricket in the war-trodden country will help in the development of the game.
Afghanistan’s victory against the mighty Pakistan unleashed jubilations across the country and the President Hamid Karzai himself commemorated the players on their return. Rashid Latif has definitely done an impressive job with the players and has managed to make an improvement in almost every department. Latif said, “The best thing is that they have a lot of backing at home where everyone, including the people and the government, want to see them do well and put Afghanistan on the international sporting map,"
The Asian Cup saw a very energetic Afghan side, which has the potential to become a very formidable side in times to come. As time passes, the players will get experience and more exposure by playing other teams of the world.
Afghanistan’s head coach said, “I am pleased with their performance. Apart from the silver medal in the Asian games and the Intercontinental Cup, the team has done remarkably well and defeated teams like Kenya, Ireland, Canada and Holland which I believe is a great achievement. The graph of progress is on the rise.”
In Pakistan, however, Afghanistan’s triumph was downplayed by rumours of match fixing. The calls of foul play came from Javed Ali Khan, the founder of Eleven Star Cricket Club Islamabad. He accused the Pakistani team of taking bribes to lose the match against Afghanistan.
Javed formally sent an application to Pakistan Cricket Board manager security Lt.Col (ret) Wasim Ahmed Shahid, in which he advised the cricket board to look into the prospects of match fixing in the said match.
Javed alleged that Pakistan’s skipper Khalid Latif had close links with the Afghan Coach Rashid Latif and Rashid may have influenced Khalid to lose that particular game. Javed has clearly put the blame of Pakistan’s defeat on the team skipper and coach, Sadiq Mohammad.
After these allegations by Javed, both Khalid Latif and Saqib Mohammad denied of their involvement in any wrong doings and criticised the Eleven Star Cricket Club founder of wrongfully accusing them of doing something that they have never done.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has served Javed Ali Khan with a notice demanding explanation of his claims; the board has asked Khan of any proof that he may have to support his claims.
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