India Are Repeating Same Mistake As Pakistan In 1990s – Rashid Latif On Playing Seven Captains

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif criticised Indian selectors for changing too many captains in this calendar year. 

On Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for three One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe next month. Opening batter Shikhar Dhawan, who recently led the team in the West Indies ODI series, will once again don the captain’s armband. 

India has played seven captains in 2022

Dhawan has been the seventh player to lead the Indian side across all formats in 2022. Since Virat Kohli relinquished captaincy duties from all formats in January, Rohit Sharma took over the reins from him. 

However, the Indian opener has struggled to be available on a few occasions either through injury or sickness. Rohit missed the entire South Africa tour in January due to a hamstring injury. KL Rahul led India in the ODI series and also in the Johannesburg Test.

Rahul was due to lead the side in the home T20I series against the Proteas in June, but he was ruled out on the eve of the series opener because of a groin injury. 

Rahul, who is the official vice-captain to Rohit, missed the entire tour of England in July. Pant captained India in the South Africa T20I series, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya led the team in two T20I matches in Ireland last month. 

Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was elevated to captain’s role in the rescheduled fifth Test against England after Rohit tested positive for Covid-19. 

India is repeating the same mistake as Pakistan in the 1990s

Latif, who led Pakistan in six Tests and 25 ODI matches, expressed concern about India repeating the mistake that Pakistan did two decades ago.

“Everyone talks about backup. But they have now produced seven backup captains in the past (present) year! This is the first time I’m seeing this in India’s history. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah… they are repeating the same mistake as Pakistan’s in the 1990s,” Latif said on his YouTube channel Caught Behind.

“They haven’t found a solid opener, nor do they have a stable middle-order. They just want a new captain. No captain is playing consistently for them. KL Rahul is unfit now, Rohit was unfit before. Virat is mentally unfit. So, they will have to think about it. They are changing so many captains.. they need a leader like Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli,” the former Pakistan skipper added. 

Team India is currently playing in the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. They started the series with a 68-run victory in Trinidad and now move to St Kitt’s to play the second match against the Windies.

Also Read: SL vs PAK: Rashid Latif Criticises Babar Azam And The Team Management For Ignoring Shadab Khan In Tests