Latif acts as mediator in Pakistan dispute

Rashid Latif has become a mediator in the long-running dispute between Pakistan's captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and his fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar. Latif told Cricinfo that he had spoken to both Inzamam and Shoaib at various times over the last couple of months and urged them to set aside their differences.

"I was chatting to Inzamam in Jeddah and the topic came up," said Latif, Pakistan's former captain and wicketkeeper and a man not averse to controversy himself. "I said to him that they have to put aside their differences for the sake of the Pakistan team. I spoke regularly to Shoaib during his county stint and said the same thing to him.

"They will both eventually retire and move on, but the Pakistan cricket team will remain," added Latif. "They have to understand that the loss isn't Inzamam's or Shoaib's, it is Pakistan's and so they should talk and clear the air."

Latif's advice seemed to have worked as Inzamam recently told PTI that he would talk to Shoaib during the ongoing Afro-Asia Cup. "I want to tell him what plans we have in mind for him, what we are expecting from him as our main strike bowler in the coming season. I would also like to hear from him about his fitness and form and how motivated he is for the coming series."

While both players have denied any personal grudges, relations between the two have been widely acknowledged to be frosty since the India series in Pakistan last year. Then, Inzamam had publicly cast doubt on an injury Shoaib had picked up during the last Test in Rawalpindi. A PCB medical inquiry later found that he had sustained a rib injury.

More strife awaited on the Australian tour at the end of last year, when Shoaib strained his hamstring during the final Test at Sydney, an injury that caused raised eyebrows among some senior players within the team as well as management officials. He was eventually sent home when he pulled his hamstring again during the VB Series and hasn't played a match for Pakistan since.

Latif's peacemaking efforts shouldn't be surprising; he is immensely respected by Inzamam and is one of the few Pakistan captains to enjoy a good relationship with Shoaib. As captain he had Shoaib reinstated in the team after he was axed in the aftermath of the disastrous World Cup 2003 campaign, defying public opinion at the time.

"I had no trouble with him when I was captain," said Latif, "although that was only for seven months. He didn't have any problems with his fitness, there was no other controversy, nothing. I didn't set curfews for him and didn't try to control him off the field; I just demanded performance on the field and that was it. It is a man-management thing."

"Look, all he wants his respect, as other star players in the team are respected. He is controversial in the things he says and does but at the end of the day, on the field, you have to admit that he deserves that respect."

Although it is uncertain whether the two have sat down to talk yet - Latif wasn't sure whether they had - he remains confident that any differences between the two will be resolved soon. "It will happen sooner rather than later because it has to. Otherwise, only Pakistan cricket will suffer."