Latif quits academy over spot-fixing comments

KARACHI — Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif resigned Tuesday as a coach at the national cricket academy after authorities handed him notice over a statement he made about spot-fixing.

By (AFP)

Published: Tue 14 Sep 2010, 6:29 PM

Last updated: Tue 14 Nov 2023, 3:21 PM

Pakistani cricket has been rocked by an investigation against three of its top cricketers in Britain over the latest spot-fixing scandal.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir after a tabloid newspaper said they had taken money to bowl no-balls during August’s Test against England.

Scotland Yard, London’s police headquarters, is investigating the claims in Britain’s News of the World newspaper, and asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the ICC not to give statements about them until the inquiry is finished.

But Latif, who blew the whistle on match-fixing among Pakistan’s national team in 1994 and testified against his fellow players in an inquiry four years later, spoke out last week.

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Latif said the ICC and its Anti-Corruption Unit were ‘powerless’ in the fight against betting scams.

He also suggested that the ICC change its rules to curb corruption, and described the News of the World report as a ‘joint money-making exercise’ by the newspaper reporter and the alleged bookie, Mazhar Majeed.

After his resignation Latif said in a statement, ‘As a former player and captain, people look up to me and expect me to speak honestly and without bias, and that I have done without meaning anything personal against anyone.

‘I have taken the decision to resign after being issued a notice by the (Pakistan Cricket) Board for having given statements on the spot-fixing issue.

‘I would like to make it clear here that while it is an honour to serve Pakistan cricket in any position, I can’t remain quiet on a key cricket issue that could determine the future of our cricket.’

Latif, 41, played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals in an illustrious career that also saw him campaign against corruption in the game.

He had been wicket-keeping coach at the academy since late 2008.