Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the country's slow progress in international, domestic and franchise cricket. While Pakistan were knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2024 at group stage, India ended their ICC trophy drought with a thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in Barbados. Latif blamed the administration for not being able to attract prominent foreign players because of the salary cap in Pakistan Super League (PSL). He went on to say that Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has better foreign talent than PSL.
“India, just like their film industry, developed a cricket industry. We treat cricket as a hobby that’s why we couldn’t turn it into a business. PSL is still there from where it had started. The highest salary cap is $1.40 lakh. Why can’t they push it further? Why can’t we have players like Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins? Because we don’t have the money so there’s in no business,” Latif said as quoted by News18
“People who conceptualized PSL were thrown out within a year. They had a vision to expand it but it never happened. Humse zyada players Bangladesh mein khel rahe hain (BPL has more foreign players than PSL). Moeen Ali is there, and so is David Miller, just because they have the money. We couldn’t progress,” he added.
The impact of foreign coaches on Indian cricket
Latif also said that a lot has been invested in Indian cricket at grassroots level and the presence of foreign coaches like Ricky Ponting (Delhi Capitals), Michael Hussey and Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings) has helped the young players.
“It’s not that India became a reckoning force in world cricket recently, after the World Cup. Go back to 2007, 2011, 2015. They have gained so much knowledge from the foreign coaches and at the same time, they are working at the grassroots level without being noticed,” Latif who captained Pakistan in 25 ODIs and six Tests opined.
“And then IPL came into play. And now, they have all the best minds with them. They have Ponting with DC, Hussey, and Bravo. But hum kya kar rahe hain,” the 55-year-old added.
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