Rashid Latif, PAK vs NZ
Rashid Latif [Image-Google]

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has slammed Cricket South Africa [CSA] for prioritizing Indian Premier League over international cricket after the Proteas left named an inexperienced squad sans all the big names for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan.

South Africa will play host to Pakistan in a series of three One-day Internationals followed by four T20Is early next month. And, while CSA has named a full-strength squad for the 50-over series, the likes of Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller will not feature in the T20I rubber as they will representing their respective IPL franchises in the 14th season of the cash-rich league, starting April 09.

South Africa, Pakistan, Rashid Latif
South Africa [Image-Getty]
Slamming CSA, Rashid Latif asked if Pakistan had left out its five main players then would South Africa have still played them?

The former stumper even alleged that before the series was decided, the boards had mutually agreed that they would be fielding their full-strength sides for both ODIs and T20Is.

“Their [CSA] calculation is good because ODI matches will count in the qualification for 2023 World Cup. However, Rabada, Miller, De Kock, Ngidi and Nortje will be gone for IPL during T20Is. If Pakistan had left out their five main players, would South Africa have still played with us? Then why are we playing with them?” Rashid Latif questioned on PTV Sports.

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”They should not play a weak team. When both boards decided this series, they would have decided on playing their full-strength sides. You are fooling the broadcasters by playing weakened sides,” he added.

Meanwhile, former South African pacer Dale Steyn too questioned the absence of senior players in the T20I squad for the series against Pakistan.

Steyn took.to his official Twitter account where he wrote-

I missed the reason why our big dogs aren’t playing the T20s against Pak?” Dale Steyn questioned on Twitter.

The ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan will take place between April 02-07 before the T20I rubber kicks off from April 10th. All the ODIs and T20Is will take place in Centurion and Johannesburg.

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