Rashid Latif announces retirement from Test cricket

Experienced wicketkeeper and former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif today announced his retirement from Test cricket. He hopes however, that he can still command a place in the one-day side.

Rashid Latif Photo © CricInfo

When contacted, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could not confirm Latif's retirement from the longer version of the game. However, Latif personally notified certain members of the media of his decision by email.

Suffering from a neck injury recently, Latif has been in Johannesburg receiving treatment and physiotherapy. Having recovered sufficiently, Latif was given a clean bill of health by the doctors at the PCB.

Latif's recent replacement, young Kamran Akmal has impressed with both his glovework and batting. Equally comfortable keeping wickets to both spinners and pacemen alike, Akmal has won the appreciation of several pundits.

With Latif's retirement from Test cricket, it is widely believed that the Pakistan selectors will persist with Akmal in Tests while sticking with Latif in the one-dayers.

The situation however also gives a glimmer of hope to Moin Khan who is playing domestic cricket in Pakistan at the moment.

Latif, who played 34 Tests in his career spanning over ten years led Pakistan on three occasions. A safe, if not flashy keeper, Latif chalked up 102 catches and 10 stumpings from his 34 Tests. A useful lower order batsman, Latif came to Pakistan's rescue more than once, scoring one hundred and six fifties in reaching 1277 runs at an average of almost 30.

Latif retired from all forms of cricket once in 1995 due to administrative problems with the Pakistan cricket set up but later reconsidered his decision.