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Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has made a sensational announcement and said that he will expose all the darkest secret of cricket in his upcoming book including match-fixing scandals. Rashid Latif revealed his intention to lay bare what he claims are hidden truths and secrets related to this controversial topic.
"I have started writing a book. Match-fixing was at its peak in the '90s. I will expose everything—how fixing happened and who was involved. I will disclose what went on in '90s cricket and also reveal which former captain submitted a presidential pardon request," Latif said in a statement, as quoted by Times Now.
Prior to announcing his book, Rashid Latif had voiced strong opinions regarding the involvement of former cricketers from the 1990s in Pakistani cricket. He expressed his belief that these individuals, rather than contributing positively, were detrimental to the sport's progress within the country.
"It took 17 years for Pakistan to win another World Cup because the '90s players didn't let go. Keep the '90s players away from management and the team, then the current players will try to win. They must be tired of serving Pakistan. Let them take a step back for a while," Latif had said while speaking on Geo News.
In a recent column published on Cricinfo, Rashid Latif asserted that the practice of match-fixing is not a novel phenomenon within cricket. He implied that such activities have a historical presence in the sport, suggesting that it's an issue that has persisted over time.
"From what I know, some cricket matches have been scripted, like movies or plays, where it is decided that so many runs are to be scored in the first session of a Test, or how many in a certain over, and so on," he had written.
"Every sportsman wants to secure his future, as no one can be guaranteed of a place in the side long-term. So when he is offered a sum of money that could equal his accumulated earnings of the next five years, naturally it will tempt him. If a player is selfish, he will be trapped, and in my view and experience, a top player is more selfish than an untalented one," he had added.
The 1990s represented a period of upheaval for Pakistani cricket, largely due to pervasive rumors of match-fixing that cast a dark shadow over the national team. Recognizing the severity of the situation, a formal investigation committee was established at the decade's close, led by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum. This committee undertook a year-long inquiry, meticulously examining the allegations. The investigation culminated in severe sanctions, with former captain Saleem Malik and seamer Ata-ur-Rehman receiving life bans from cricket.
Pakistan team recently hosted the Champions Trophy after a long gap but crashed out of the tournament in group stage itself. They became the first team to sign off the Champions Trophy without winning a single game being a host.
