Latif resigns as Afghanistan coach

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has resigned as Afghanistan's coach after falling out with the country's Cricket Board and some players.

Karachi, Jun 14, 2011

 

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has resigned as Afghanistan’s coach after falling out with the country’s Cricket Board and some players.

 

“I can only say that I had sent in my resignation as coach of the Afghanistan team and their Chairman of the board has accepted my resignation,” Rashid said.

 

He confirmed that his contract with the Afghanistan board was valid until end of July but he opted out as the Afghan officials and some players were not happy with his coaching style.

 

“So, I have decided to part ways with them but I wish them the best of luck in their future matches,” Rashid, a former wicketkeeper-batsman, said.

 

Rashid is due to leave for London this week to take up a contract with the Lashings Cricket Club.

 

The Afghanistan cricket officials have accused Rashid of backing out of his contract which they said ran until July.

 

“Basically Rashid resigned because he was not getting along with the Afghanistan cricket officials and some players who had made it clear they wanted a new coach.

 

“The only thing holding back the Afghanistan officials from terminating Rashid’s contract was that their new coach, Kabir Khan is tied up with the UAE team until September so they wanted to make do with Rashid until then,” a source close to the former captain said.

 

Relations between Rashid and the Afghan official and some players deteriorated when the former captain felt that some senior players had deliberately under-performed against the Pakistan A team in the recent series as they didn’t want him as coach.

 

“They were not happy with Rashid because he wanted changes in the team and insisted only those players who performed should be part of the national team. He was also not in favour of board officials interfering in team and selection matters,” one source said.

 

© PTI

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