Inzamam should retire from Test cricket, says Latif

Rashid Latif: "I just think the responsibility of leading the team in Test and one-day cricket is proving to be a big burden for Inzamam" © Getty Images Enlarge

Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain, believes Inzamam-ul-Haq should withdraw from the Test side and concentrate on playing in one-day internationals.

The 36-year-old Inzamam returned to Pakistan on Monday after a controversial tour of England, where his side lost the Test series and his one-day team slipped to fourth position in the ICC world rankings. Pakistan were beaten 3-0 in the Tests and lost the last two one-dayers over the weekend as England battled back to earn a 2-2 draw in the five-match series.

"I just think the responsibility of leading the team in Test and one-day cricket is proving to be a big burden for Inzamam," Latif said. "At his age, it is never easy. In my opinion he would be better off just playing one-day matches. It would ease the pressure and allow him to give more to the team and extend his career."

Despite being retained as captain for next month's Champions Trophy in India, Inzamam faces a two-day ICC disciplinary hearing in London from September 27 and could face a ban of up to eight ODIs. He is charged with ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute during the controversial fourth Test at The Oval, where his team refused to play on after the umpires changed the ball and penalised them five runs.

Inzamam replaced Latif as captain in November 2003 after Latif was banned for five one-dayers in a home series against Bangladesh for claiming an unfair catch. "If Inzamam just plays one-day cricket I think the team will benefit a lot and could do well in next year's World Cup," he said. "He can contribute a lot more as batsman if he is relaxed and free from the pressures of Test cricket."