Rashid Latif dumped again

The Pakistani national selection committee's decision not to consider former captain Rashid Latif for a slot in the Toronto bound squad is likely to pile on his agony. Although the team will be announced on Sept 7, the selectors have already decided to stick with Moin Khan arguing that only one wicket keeper would be selected in the 15 man squad.

Latif, whose 101 limited overs games have yielded 122 victims behind the wickets, is named amongst the 24 probables announced for a training camp starting at Lahore from Sept 2. Latif faced a similar treatment from the previous panel of selectors when he was invited for training camp for the Indian tour but ignored completely.

The cricket pundits have raised eye-brows over selectors decision to call Latif when they have decided not to select him. They said Latif doesn't deserve the treatment after being a former captain and a player who has always delivered his best. But the selectors have shown some relief for the 31-year-old player by including him in the 20-man provisional squad for the Toronto series.

The names have been submitted to the organizers for the preparation of souvenirs and other material. Four players whose names have not been sent to Toronto include Mohammad Akram, Shabbir Ahmad, Naveed Qureshi and Yasir Arafat.

In another latest development, 1998-99 domestic performers are likely to be included in the 24-probable list. Last season's leading wicket-taker Kabir Khan and top-wicket keeper Wasim Yousufi were ignored by the selectors while announcing the probables. Kabir Khan of Peshawar playing for Habib Bank had captured a record 113 scalps while Yousufi of Peshawar playing for Pakistan Customs accounted for a record 77 batsmen behind the wickets.