Former Pakistan wicketkeeper and captain Rashid Latif has made an interesting statement, claiming that Shoaib Akhtar’s deliveries weren’t the fastest to handle—it was another pacer whose balls felt much sharper in hand.
Rashid Latif on Shoaib Akhtar’s Record
Speaking on a private TV comedy show, the 56-year-old ex-cricketer responded to various audience questions. He acknowledged that breaking Shoaib Akhtar’s fastest bowling record would be extremely difficult because of his unique bowling style.
“I Would Quickly Pass the Ball to Inzamam”
Latif humorously recalled watching a video where Shoaib Akhtar claimed his deliveries hurt wicketkeepers’ hands. This prompted Latif to review his old match footage, where he noticed that he would catch the ball and immediately pass it to Inzamam-ul-Haq, avoiding the full impact.
Mohammad Sami Was Just as Fast as Shoaib Akhtar
According to Latif, Mohammad Sami’s deliveries were the ones that felt the fastest and hardest on the hands. He rated Sami on par with Shoaib Akhtar but believed he wasn’t utilized properly in international cricket.
Mismanagement of Mohammad Sami’s Career
Latif stated that the team management failed to recognize Sami’s ideal format, continuously playing him in Test cricket instead of white-ball formats, where he could have excelled. He credited Inzamam-ul-Haq for making good use of Sami’s skills but noted that after Inzamam’s retirement, Sami’s career faded away.
Selection Committee Lacks Full Authority
Addressing a question about team selection, Latif revealed that selection committees don’t always have complete decision-making power, suggesting that external factors influence squad choices.
1994 Match-Fixing Scandal Led to His Temporary Exit
Latif also touched on the 1994 match-fixing controversy, stating that certain allegations made in Justice Qayyum’s inquiry suggested that players intentionally lost matches. When punishments were handed out and some players were cleared, he felt disillusioned and briefly stepped away from cricket.
Return to the Team in 1998
However, in 1998, Latif was recalled to the national team, as selectors believed he had been treated unfairly in the past.
Final Thoughts
Rashid Latif’s insights shed light on Pakistan’s fast-bowling history, career mismanagement, and match-fixing controversies, offering cricket fans a deeper look into the game’s untold stories.
