Waqar Ahmad Photo © PCB

These days several cricket playing countries are facing problems in selecting wicket-keepers for their Test and One-Day squads. England and India are current examples as experienced senior 'keepers have either retired or faded away. It seems their cricket set up is not producing sufficient talented wicket-keeper/batsmen for playing at the highest level.

Lets look at Pakistan and study the attributes of modern wicket-keeping.

Imtiaz Ahmed played 44 Tests for Pakistan from 1952-62 as a 'keeper/batsman and a whole slew of very good talent perished under his awesome shadow. Similarly, Wasim Bari, during his long 81 Test career kept a firm grip on the slot and nobody could challenge him although he was never a good batsman.

- Wicket-keeping is an art not merely confined to stopping byes and catching snicks behind the stumps.
- It requires tremendous concentration and alertness. Every ball bowled, innocuous or not, can beat the bat and run down for four byes leaving no room for complacency.
- A wicket-keeper must be capable of reading from the hand of a bowler, leg breaks, googlies, cutters, swings and 'doosras' (the new fangled 'other one' bowled by modern offies).
- A wicket-keeper is the master of judging line and length, so much that many umpires watch his footwork before deciding lbw decisions. If the 'keeper moves towards leg then the ball must be going down past leg stump, thinks the umpire.
- He is a master of anticipating bounce off the pitch and reacts sharply, especially when the pitch is unpredictable.
- He is an acrobat and gymnast rolled in one.
- He needs the skill to let the ball land nicely and gently into his gloves, not pluck or snatch at it.
- He must not let his hands or fingers get hurt.
- He must be a good judge of a batsman and of batting.
- He is the 'on-the field-coach' of his bowlers and an advisor to the captain.

A good 'keeper's diving catches and stumping from the leg side are thrilling to watch and on a sharply turning pitch, standing up to a spinner, he breathes down the batsman's neck like a tiger. All in all, a wicket-keeper is a joy to watch.

At present, unlike England and India, Pakistan has at least four good wicket-keepers including the better known Rashid Latif and Moin Khan. The two are ferociously contesting for the one single prestigious spot in the Pakistan team. Both very well know the victor takes all and the vanquished disappears into anonymity. And frankly, 'demotion' to play first-class cricket in Pakistan is a boring chore if one cannot make the Test team.

The two contenders have their own 'godfathers' in the current set up and both, selectors and administrators are divided right down the middle. Even the team members have their own opinion but are not making it known yet.

The Pakistan cricket management decision to include Rashid Latif in the squad has been willy-nilly accepted by the Pakistan team. It's no secret that Rashid Latif has been selected as a matter of expediency in the backdrop of gambling, match-fixing allegations and whistle blowing. The Pakistan cricket team's position is rather unique in the sense that no other team except South Africa has the accuser and the accused playing in the same team.

The team has its own mercurial and unpredictable nature which is not the mathematical sum of the individual member characters. A cricketer of immense proven talent does not automatically find a place in the squad. The selectors are not all-powerful and at times, even in tandem with the Chairman, do not have the last word. A cricketer of proven talent must get a 'nod of approval' from the indispensable members of the team and with passage of time, the cricketers come to know which players form this 'core'.

The team captain should wield great power in selection matters but often he himself is on knife-edge, fighting for a place. The 'nod of approval' is not directly or necessarily related to player power. It is a balancing act performed by the core who know the game and its associated politics inside out. This very core can delay the inclusion of a Shoaib Akhtar and can delay the exclusion of a Saleem Malik. More recently, It did not let young 'keeper/batsman Kamran Akmal make his debut. So important is the 'nod of approval' from the senior players.

Rashid Latif had been brought into the fold for the sake of peace and harmony but two young wicket-keepers were ignored, possibly due to unsound judgment or some cogent political considerations.

The case of Rashid Latif and Moin Khan is complicated. Both are not young and have been around a long time but they know what this game is about. As things stand, both are not good enough to set the house on fire in the World Cup. Since the selection choice is ostensibly between them, a candid comparison of abilities and usefulness to the team would not be inappropriate.

Rashid Latif is well into his 33rd year, an age at which a wicket-keeper has lots of experience behind him. He has consciously eliminated all unnecessary body movements to conserve energy and remain fit. However, he has slowed down some and is a bit more lethargic now. His concentration lapses are becoming noticeable due to his inconsistent collection. Diving to the left and right, once his hallmark, has been reduced to an ordinary slide and push on the knees. Rashid has never been a 'great' wicket-keeper when spinners are on. One doesn't often see him cheer on the bowlers and fielders. Could this be because rallying shouts are an outcome of youthfulness, camaraderie, and unity with other players?

Unfortunately Rashid is also prone to neck injuries and had a difficult time in South Africa when excruciating pain stopped him from playing two Test matches in 1999 when he was the captain. At one stage, he insisted on having an operation but luckily, Dan Keisel, then the Pakistan physio, came to his rescue and put him right with just a neck collar and exercises. It is a recurring problem said 'Dr Dan'.

Since only one wicket keeper is selected for a series or tournament, one cannot but help have the 'all eggs in one basket' feeling. He is an improved batsman now but only against medium pace or ordinary spin but is dependable when batting at number 7 or 8. Any attempt by the captain or team management to turn him into an instant pure middle order batsman may end in disaster despite his straight bat technique. In a difficult situation as a batsman, he can steady the ship but to play a winning knock is not his forte.

On the plus side, there is a kind of a beauty about his 'keeping, the ball still lodges gently and nicely into his gloves. He is enjoying his selection and the fame that goes with it. He does not have many friends in the team and he doesn't care about that either.

Moin Khan has a lot of confidence in his ability as a wicket-keeper/batsman. He does not have the same natural talent as Rashid Latif but is very effective when in form. What he lacks in natural ability he makes up with practice and hard work and is one of the most physically fit cricketers in Pakistan. He is a good batsman who sometimes astonishes connoisseurs with improvised strokes that are kind of sweeps and cuts and what not. At present he is also out of form as he showed during the recent National One-Day Championship that his team won. He is struggling hard to regain the lost form and a place in the side but without any success. The present senior members of the Pakistan team strongly prefer Moin to veteran Rashid and this feeling may surface at an opportune time.

To end the controversy, the administrators once wanted to play both, one as a middle order batsman and the other as wicket-keeper. It was later agreed neither was good enough to make the side as a pure batsman. Clearly, their batting abilities can only be appreciated when combined with 'keeping skills.

Although the World Cup 2003 begins next February, some still think of it being far away but others feel it's just round the corner. The question still stands, which one should be picked, provided both are in good form at the time of selection?

Well, it seems clear, - form or no form - players' nod or no nod, the final decision has already been made.

The two lesser-known youngsters Kamran Akmal and Humayun Farhat stand discarded because of inexperience. Rashid Latif may well continue till after the World Cup and all necessary support at all levels would be given to help him along. Is this a correct and fair decision?

ED: Waqar Ahmad is an ex-cricketer, writer, commentator and a past Secretary of Pakistan Cricket Board. Email: ebc@fibre.net.pk

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