Brief Profile: Rashid Latif

Pakistan News & Features Services

Rashid Latif, a former Pakistan cricket captain, is recognized as one of greatest wicket-keepers produced by the country. Besides being very safe behind the stumps he was also a handy batsman in the middle-order.

He has been a fearless person all along, on and off the field. He is known and also feared for calling a spade a spade. He has not been afraid in sharing his thoughts openly and his candid opinions have quite often shaken those in the corridors of power in the Pakistan cricket. 

He has also not hidden his feelings about the controversial issues, having been in forefront in speaking about match-fixing and other critical matters.

Born in Karachi on October 14, 1968, he made his first-class debut in only his 18th year and he started playing international cricket four years later. He scored a match-winning half century in his maiden Test against England at The Oval in the summer of 1992. 

He played 37 Test matches in which he scored 1,381 runs at an average of 28.77 with 150 being his highest score. He caught 119 batsmen and stumped 11 which took his aggregate of dismissals to 130.

He also appeared in 166 One-day Internationals, scoring 1,709 runs at an average of 17.42 with his strike rate being 76.39. He amassed three half-centuries with 79 being his highest. His total dismissals in the shorter format of the game were 220 comprising of 182 catches and 38 stumpings. 

He had announced his retirement from international cricket in dramatic circumstances during the course of Pakistan's 1994-95 tour of Zimbabwe but he was installed as captain upon his return. He was reappointed as the national captain in 2003 but his tenure didn’t last long. 

Following his retirement from first-class cricket in 2005, Rashid Latif has been engaged in coaching assignments. He has set up his own Rashid Latif Cricket Academy in Karachi, which has produced quite a few successful cricketers. 

***Rashid Latif has contributed foreword to Mohali Mystery

Foreword: Mohali Mystery

By Rashid Latif 

Despite the advent of the shorter format of the game of cricket, the ICC World Cup, held after every four years, remains the most sought-after cricket event and the enthusiasts of the game wait for it anxiously. It’s a dream of every cricket playing nation to win the World Cup.

But at the end of the contest, after all the thrills and excitement, only one team has to be crowned and the others have to wait for another four years. Pakistan annexed the trophy in 1992 but the dream to retain it was shattered in 1996. 

Our boys came closer to retaining the title in 1999, only to fall at the last hurdle, but in 2003 and 2007 events proved to be total debacle. Elements of suspicion and doubt shrouded the way Pakistan had lost the final of the 1999 World Cup. There was severe criticism when the star-studded team crashed out in 2003 while the whole nation was jolted when Inzamam-ul-Haq and his men flopped even more miserably in 2007.

I was a member of the team during the 2003 World Cup held in South Africa. It was really disappointing and disturbing for all of us not to have gone beyond the first round, despite having an experienced and potent outfit.

Shahid Afridi, a part of the World Cup in 1999, 2003 and 2007, was entrusted with the responsibility of leading Pakistan in 2011. He didn’t have a formidable outfit on paper but he had quite a few seasoned campaigners at his disposal.

Pakistan remained a mixed bag in the league matches as they lost to New Zealand but registered victories over defending champions Australia and hosts Sri Lanka to be counted as serious contenders for the title. By having bulldozed the trio of Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, Pakistan had enhanced their reputation and these three victories in particular raised hopes of bringing back the title after 19 years.

Pakistan lost to India in the semifinals after being in dominating position for most part of the match which made the defeat look a bit mysterious. The veteran Misbah-ul-Haq was under fire for slow batting and Afridi was criticized for not taking power play at the right time which ruined their chances of making it to the final. 

The Indians, as expected, reached the final and eventually regained the title after a lapse of 28 years by hammering Sri Lanka in the final. It looked as if the CWC 2011 was tailor-made for them to lift the crown. Like anyone, I was also surprised at Pakistan’s loss in the semifinals despite putting India under pressure for so long. Rumours travelling through grapevine pointed at something fishy behind the defeat.

There was also an element of shock and mystery when the Pakistan team, upon their return, was honoured by federal and provincial governments as if they had brought home the title. Shahid Afridi’s team was accorded red carpet welcome despite losing the semifinal whereas the whole set up of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was changed when the team, under Wasim Akram, lost to Australia in the final in 1999. What a contrast indeed!

Pakistan’s bad luck had started a year earlier when the ICC had stopped them from playing host to their quota of the World Cup matches on security grounds and the tournament was co-hosted by the trio of Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

I had raised the issue during the World Cup 2011 which concerned the reduction in the number of participating teams. I have had the feeling that the matches involving the ‘minnows’ provide the opening to foul play and there are greater opportunities of ‘fixing’ them.

*****For obtaining a copy of Mohali Mystery, please write to jumbopublishing@yahoo.com or call Asad Raza at 0333-2304024. It is priced Rs 1,000 in Pakistan.

Festival of Sports Books creates buzz at Customs Public School

Pakistan News & Features Services 

Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books, held at the Customs Public School, located in the Block 6 of PECHS, created a buzz on November 6 and 7 and there was plenty of excitement at the campus on both days.

The Principal of the Customs Public School, Raisuddin Siddiqui, who is widely known for motivating the students to take part in sports and other co-curricular activities besides academics, visited the stall and appreciated the move of Jumbo Publishing, acclaimed as the leaders in sports publishing in the region, to offer books at generous discounts during the festival. 

The teachers as well as the librarian of the Customs Public School were also proactive and their efforts facilitated the students in having a good look at the titles on display and sale during the festival which was extended by a day. 

The sports titles were offered at very high discounts on both days. Focus on World Cup and Top of the Charts, having cover price of Rs 500 each, were available for Rs 100 each while Mission Caribbean and Cricket Milestones, whose retail price is Rs 200 each, was offered for Rs 100 each. Asian Glory, whose cover price is Rs 600, was sold at Rs 200 while Reflections and Cricket Fever, having retail prices of Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively, were also available at Rs 200 each.

Festival of Sports Books extended at Customs Public School

Pakistan News & Features Services

Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books being held at the Customs Public School, located in the Block 6 of PECHS, has been extended by a day and it will continue during the school hours on November 7.

The festival generated great interest among the students of the Customs Public School who are encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities by the management and the teachers. 

 Jumbo Publishing, acclaimed as the leaders in sports publishing in the region, are offering the books at generous discounts during the festival in which Focus on World Cup and Top of the Charts, having cover price of Rs 500 each, are available for Rs 100 each while Mission Caribbean and Cricket Milestones, whose retail price is Rs 200 each, are being offered for Rs 100 each. 

Asian Glory, whose cover price is Rs 600, is being sold at Rs 200 while Reflections and Cricket Fever, having retail prices of Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively, are also available at Rs 200 each until the stocks lasted.

Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books at Customs Public School on November 6

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Customs Public School, located in the Block 6 of PECHS, will be playing host to Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books to be held on November 6.

The Customs Public School has been operating under the patronage of the Pakistan Customs since 1990. One of its features is the library, having been renovated and upgraded, a couple of years ago which is also made available for co-curricular activities. 

Jumbo Publishing, acclaimed as the leaders in sports publishing in the region, will be offering the books at generous discounts to the students as well teachers of the Customs Public School during the one-day festival. 

Focus on World Cup and Top of the Charts, having cover price of Rs 500 each, will be available for Rs 100 each while Mission Caribbean and Cricket Milestones, whose retail price is Rs 200 each, will also be offered for Rs 100 each. 

Asian Glory, whose cover price is Rs 600, will be sold at Rs 200 while Reflections and Cricket Fever, having retail prices of Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively, will also be available at Rs 200 each until the stocks last.

Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books held at Happy Home High School

Pakistan News & Features Services 

The Happy Home High School, located in the Block 13-D-1 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, hosted Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books on November 2. 

Large number of students, alongwith their parents, visited the stall of Jumbo Publishing, acclaimed as the leaders in sports publishing in the region, which offered the books at generous discounts during the festival. 

Focus on World Cup and Top of the Charts, having cover price of Rs 500 each, was available for Rs 100 each while Mission Caribbean and Cricket Milestones, whose retail price is Rs 200 each, was offered for Rs 100 each. 

Asian Glory, whose cover price is Rs 600, was up for the grabs at Rs 200 while Reflections and Cricket Fever, having retail prices of Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively, was also available at Rs 200 each.

Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books winds up at Bright Future School

Pakistan News & Features Services

 Jumbo Publishing’s Festival of Sports Books at the Bright Future English School, located in Block 13-D of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, came to an end on November 1.

Jumbo Publishing, acclaimed as the leaders in sports publishing in the region, started the originally planned two-day festival at the Bright Future School on October 30. 

It also held on October 31 and upon the request of the management of the school it was extended by another day to facilitate their students and parents. 

Focus on World Cup and Top of the Charts, having cover price of Rs 500 each, was available for Rs 100 each while Mission Caribbean and Cricket Milestones, whose retail price is Rs 200 each, were offered for Rs 100 each. 

Asian Glory, whose cover price is Rs 600, was sold at Rs 200 while Reflections and Cricket Fever, having retail prices of Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively, was available at Rs 200 each.