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Wicket-keeper/batsman Rashid Latif will miss the entire ongoing tour of Zimbabwe due to his neck and back injuries as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retracted its earlier decision and has now opted to use its own panel of doctors for treatment instead of making arrangements in South Africa.

A PCB spokesman while quoting PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said Tuesday that decision to recall Rashid was to help him regain fitness under the supervision of PCB panel of doctors. Naturally, they (panel of doctors) would have all the opinions of the specialists along with the tests reports of the injuries that would help them constitute a rehabilitation programme for him.

No replacement for Rashid would be sent to Zimbabwe, the spokesman added.

PCB chairman also took a bold step to determine if Rashid was injured prior to his departure for Zimbabwe. PCB will seek a report from Pakistan physiotherapist and trainer Dennis Waight in this connection. If it is discovered that Rashid was already injured before leaving on the tour, he would be liable to pay a fine upto US 1000 under the players contract clause 8.7 which relates to those players who report unfit or is not upto the fitness standard required for international cricket. The team physio and doctor shall determine the amount of fine.

It was learnt that Rashid was unfit before the tour and it was also in the knowledge of captain Waqar Younis and PCB too. This is evident from the fact that a second wicketkeeper, Kamran Akmal was included in the Zimbabwe tour, a decision taken after many years.

Rashid who has been touring with the team for the last one year as sole wicketkeeper could do the job singularly in Zimbabwe too if he was fit. The decision of not sending any replacement for Rashid also proved that lone wicketkeeper was enough for the Zimbabwe's and Kamran was only included because the first wicketkeeper (Rashid) was not fit.

© Dawn