Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan’s former wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif, while talking in a YouTube video on Thursday, backed former women cricketers to occupy the top slot after the abrupt resignation of head coach Misbahul Haq from the position of chief selector. The 52-year-old believed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was doing an excellent job promoting women in commentary but could step up their efforts by appointing a former women’s cricketer to an essential management position. “They are promoting the women a lot in the commentary side. Urooj Mumtaz should be made the Chief Selector of the men’s Pakistan side which would get rid of most of the hassle. There is no harm in that,” Latif said.

“It would be a good idea to give these positions to someone like Sana Mir or Bismah Maroof. They should be promoted in the selection committees. They could even look at both the men’s and women’s teams simultaneously,” he added. Latif also questioned the constitution of the PCB for not making it easier for women to become part of the top brass. “This should definitely happen. Everyone thinks that a former men’s cricket player will get the position. Why should that happen? Why do we have chairman in our constitution and not chairperson? A woman can easily occupy that slot. Whoever makes the constitution should look into these factors,” he said. The former cricketer also claimed that Mohammad Akram, who is one of the top contenders for the role of chief selector, will not accept the offer. “I don’t think Mohammad Akram will be appointed as the next chief selector. He is very close to me but we haven’t discussed anything on this topic,” he said.