LAHORE, March 20: Pakistan captain Rashid Latif vowed on Thursday he would play cricket for one more year.

Rashid said that he accepted the offer of captaincy as a challenge while talking to reporters at Gaddafi Stadium.

“Yes, the rebuilding of the Pakistan team is a challenge for me. And the task is possible and not impossible,” he said.

The 34-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman admitted that though the axing of seniors players was a hard decision yet it was taken in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.

“The senior players are talented and they had done good work for Pakistan team. But now it is time to test fresh blood,” he said.

Rashid emphasised his prime mission was only to serve the nation and during his captaincy he would try to prepare a strong team and a wicket-keeper which could be either Kamran Akmal or any one else.

He said he had opted for retirement after the World Cup but the new responsibility given to him forced him to change his decision.

Rashid was all praise for Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, whome he termed as a good all-rounder and who deserved a place in the team much earlier.

He called Taufiq Umar the best find of the year  and added left-hander opener should have played in all matches of the World Cup.

To a question, Rashid said that Razzaq was included as there was no substitute of him at the No 6 spot when the playing eleven was discussed with the selection committee.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...