Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif faces disciplinary action after leading his team off the field in protest during a first class match on Saturday. Karachi Blues were playing the local team in Faisalabad in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy when Rashid took Karachi off to protest against a dangerous and unfit pitch.

Describing the incident, Rashid said, “My players were being injured and I could not stand to see any serious injury taking place. Players’ safety was my primary concern, It was a pitch of variable bounce and unfit for a first class match. I therefore asked the players to come off after declaring the innings because the umpires were not allowing them to come off otherwise. Afterwards I gave in writing to the match referee that we could not continue the match on the pitch which was unfit and dangerous for the players."

A sialkot team official also believes to a certain extent that Rashid’s decision to concede the match appeared to be justified. Recalling Sialkot-Rawalpindi match in Sialkot, he said batsmen Imran Nazir and Sufyan Munir were both injured on a pitch on which Rao Iftikhar made the ball bounce alarmingly in poor visibility conditions. "Imran was hit in the box while Munir got one on his toes and both retired hurt," the team official added.

“With such standards we couldn’t produce quality cricketers for the future. Pitches as well as other related facilities should be upgraded to be at par with the world. My step should be an eye opener to those responsible” Rashid said

Karachi Blues were struggling on 40 for 4 when Latif took action. The match referee subsequently awarded the match to Faisalabad, saying Karachi had conceded by walking off. The chairman of the domestic cricket monitoring committee, Shafiq Ahmed, said the Pakistan Cricket Board would decide whether any disciplinary action should be taken against the Karachi team and/or Latif.

Referring to possible action against him, Rashid said he had not done anything wrong, whatever he did, was for the betterment of the game. “as far as actions or enquiry is concerned I have seen many in the past and I am ready this time as well” Rashid said.