SL vs PAK: Rashid Latif Lauds Azhar Ali For Sending A Positive Influence In Pakistan Dressing Room Despite Being Dropped From 2nd Test

Former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif has lauded another former skipper Azhar Ali for maintaining a positive atmosphere in the dressing room even after being dropped from the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan won the first Test in Galle by chasing a mammoth 342 runs on the back of Abdullah Shafique’s unbeaten 160. They lead the series 1-0 as the Men in Green headed into the second Test without Ali and pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi. The former Pakistan captain, who has represented the side in 95 Tests, had a poor outing in the first Test as he registered scores of 3 and 6.

Latif praised Azhar while talking about the player in his Youtube video. He said that the former Pakistan skipper never complained against anything that the management did with him.

Azhar Ali Is One Of The Best Human Beings: Rashid Latif

“Many players retired while waiting for a chance. Sometimes, good players didn’t get a chance, and some players were given a longer rope which wasn’t justified. But it’s the system, and we have become too comfortable with it.”

“When we talk about Azhar Ali, he’s one of the best human beings. He has played at no.3, no.4, and as an opener. He was named the captain in ODIs and was removed later. He didn’t complain. Then, he was named the captain in Tests and they removed him there as well. Again, he didn’t complain,” Latif said on his official YouTube channel.

Latif further praised Ali saying that he took the mantle of Pakistan Test batting after the retirement of Younis Khan and Misbah Ul Haq and never reacted to any criticism against him.

“Many players do react. But he remained quiet. It’s a positive sign. It is important to have such players in the dressing room. After the retirements of Misbah and Younis, there was a big gap in that dugout. Azhar Ali and Asad Shafique did their best to fill that,” said Latif.

Meanwhile, speaking about the second Test, Sri Lanka scored 378 runs batting first after contributions from almost everyone in the batting order. Dinesh Chandimal top scored with 80 as Angelo Mathews in his 100th Test scored a patient 42. Pakistan he already lost a couple of wickets including the big wicket of Babar Azam in response to the Lankan score.

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