Former Test skipper Rashid Latif on Saturday urged former cricketers to offer their services selflessly to improve the state of Pakistan cricket following the latest debacle in India. Talking to Dawn a day after Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy Rashid said that great players of the recent past should come forward and offer their services to the Pakistan Cricket Board. “For years the PCB has been adopting a policy of ‘quick fix’ whenever the team performs below expectations. As such there is no long term planning. In my view this thinking must change if Pakistan is to become a formidable cricketing nation,” the ex-wicketkeeper said. “Cricketers of the past era should not expect lucrative contracts from the PCB. Instead they must offer their services to the board selflessly. “We are blessed with talent in abundance but unfortunately, there is no system in place to tap it. Once in a while, a rare talent emerges out of nowhere but that too has come become a very rare occurrence”

Rashid believed that former stars like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Moin Khan, Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed Senior, Ramiz Raja, Aaqib Javed and himself have to take a collective stand for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. “After all, Pakistan has given us a lot (fame, respect and money). It’s time we should repay the country by offering our services free of charge. It is our national duty to work collectively for the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he urged.

Rashid said Pakistan can follow the example of Australia, who plan their future meticulously. “Just look at the system on which the Australians run their cricket. We talk of Australian cricketers of being battle-hardened and mentally strong but the reason for their domination in world cricket is that they come from a different school of thought and work diligently at every aspect of the game. “There is always a healthy competition for places in the Australian side. No player is virtually guaranteed a spot unless he gets it on pure merit.” Rashid noted with concern the state of Pakistan domestic cricket and urged the authorities to take remedial steps.

“I think enough is not being done at the domestic level. That is why there is a lack of back-up for the senior national squad. We should do away with all Grade-II competitions because the selectors seldom consider players competing in those tournaments.

“Even in the main events, there is a distinct lack of competition among players. Most of these guys just turn up for the sake of playing. Sadly, there is no intensity and eagerness to aspire for the top,” he pointed out. “We have a number of academies but there are no academies in remote areas where there is enormous amount of talent. The role of academies has to be precised and strictly based on merit and discipline. The PCB must take a serious look at this vital aspect.” Commenting on Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy, Rashid said though pitches were not ideal for cricket in India, no real excuse could be given for the loss.

“The pitches were substandard for one-dayers. But really that is no excuse for performing the way Pakistan did. The team, despite its shortcoming in the bowling department, was capable of a much better showing.” Rashid was critical of selection policy during the last Group ‘B’ fixture against South Africa on Friday. “Pakistan made the mistake of leaving out Rana Naved-ul-Hasan in this do-or-die match. The conditions demanded a strong pace attack and Naved, despite not being in good form, should have played,” he remarked.

He also added that Pakistan shouldn’t have left behind experienced bowlers like Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria at home, especially after Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were unavailable. “Both Sami and Danish could have made the difference because they are experienced bowlers.” On the failure of Imran Farhat and Shahid Afridi throughout the tournament, Rashid minced no words in saying that they batted irresponsibly and got out to outrageous shots.

“The team would have benefited had there been players like Yasir Hameed and Asim Kamal in the squad. These two lads have been unfairly sidelined for a long time now. Compared to unpredictable players like Afridi and Imran, Yasir and Asim are both technically sound with good temperament,” he opined. “Both (Yasir and Asim) should have played a lot for the country had the selection been unbiased and on merit. They didn’t go to academies but had a hard grind at the domestic level before being picked for Pakistan.”

Rashid paid tribute to Inzamam-ul-Haq, who missed the Champions Trophy due to the four-match ban imposed by ICC for his role in the infamous Oval Test fiasco, saying that the regular national skipper should pick and choose matches in order to prolong his career. “Inzamam has still a lot to offer at the international level and Pakistan cricket needs him. He is a great player who deserves to go out at his own will once he feels that the time is right.

“But my advice to him is that he should confine himself more for one-day cricket rather than Tests at this phase of his wonderful career. Given his age and fitness level, that is the ideal formula for him to play beyond the World Cup,” he stressed.