A Cloud Caught Behind, Cleanly

After persistent match-fixing allegations and threats to his family—his father was apparently kidnapped by thugs close to a section of bookies and was released only after a sum of Rs 15 lakh changed hands—a miffed Wasim Akram had said he was unwilling to shoulder the captaincy but that he would like to play as an ordinary member. Akram said the "baseless allegations" had taken their toll and that he wasn't motivated enough to lead the team. And though he denied the kidnapping incident, he admitted that his family was being harassed. What the strike bowler wasn't aware of was that in the PCB's massive Operation Clean-up scheme, he was the key target. First, the board reinstated Latif as captain—the same Latif who had cried hoarse about his teammates', Akram included, match-fixing habits in an interview to Outlook in July 1997. Then, the PCB announced that it was dropping both Akram and ace bowler Waqar Younis for the upcoming Bangladesh tournament. The board may not consider them for the April tour to South Africa either. This, in sharp contrast to the weak-kneed approach of the Indian cricket board—which has shown a clear unwillingness to come to terms or even acknowledge the cancerous tumour.

About this decision to retrieve Latif from the sidelines, Majid Khan told Outlook: "It just shows the board's sincerity of purpose and the total absence of vindictiveness. We think that what Rashid Latif did and said, which blemished the country's reputation internationally, is in the past. He was punished for it and the incident is history. (Majid was referring to Latif's outburst in an interview to Outlook). Rashid has been selected and named captain on merit."

 In the last few years, Latif has been dogged by one controversy after another, all in some way related to his allegations against teammates that they were aiding the massive Asian betting syndicates operating out of Dubai, Mumbai and Karachi. His latest, and most damaging, outburst was in Outlook where he named several Pakistani players colluding with bookies.

Latif's crusade appears to have borne fruit, finally. The hot honchos who run Pakistani cricket, Majid Khan the chief amongst them, now seem to have reached a conclusion that the mohajir (Latif) hasn't exactly been growling about imaginary gremlins. That subcontinent cricket has indeed been suspect for a few years—perhaps still is in certain quarters—and that some potent surgery was in order. The PCB Betting and Gambling Allegations Probe Committee, headed by Justice Ejaz Yousaf and comprising Khalid Mehmood, Mian Mohammad Munir and PCB secretary Waqar Ahmed, now appears to have declared war against "suspect elements" in the team. When it met last November to take stock of the allegations against certain players, specially Akram, it scanned relevant records and information, some reportedly supplied by Latif himself.

But Latif's promotion comes with a set of clauses. Majid has firmly told Latif that neither the Board nor the selectors are happy with the team's performance in recent matches, particularly the Akai-Singer Champion's Trophy at Sharjah, which was why it was initiating drastic changes. Says one PCB official: "Latif has been told in clear terms that he must not tolerate any indiscipline in the team and that the Board would fully back him in his efforts to ensure 100 per cent commitment in the players."

Latif, obviously, is extremely happy at his promotion. He told Outlook: "Our objective is to become world-beaters once again. I am keen to fulfil the task entrusted to me, whatever the period I have been chosen for. Only this will be my top priority. We lost six tournaments last year. The team is under tremendous pressure. The Dhaka tournament is the first of the year and I am confident that the players will put everything behind them."

The betting controversy had initially chiefly surrounded former batsman Salim Malik because of the charges levelled against him by a bunch of Australian cricketers. But when Akram pulled out of the World Cup quarter-final against India in 1996, citing shoulder injury, and Pakistan lost, the skipper was singled out as the key culprit. Ever since, the pace bowler has never quite been able to get the boogie off his back.

In mid-1997, opener Amir Sohail and Latif rendered a new twist to the tale when they alleged, through press interviews, that Akram and Malik were involved in betting and match-fixing, sharply dividing the cricketing fraternity into two groups. One comprising Rameez Raja, Latif and Sohail and the other led by Akram, Malik and Ejaz Ahmed. The Rameez group had the blessings of Majid Khan and Saleem Altaf, selection committee chairman; the Akram lobby was backed by Haroon Rasheed and Zaheer Abbas, two other selectors. Both camps did their bit to pull the team in different directions. Following the Pakistani team's rout at the Sahara Cup in Toronto, Raja and Malik were dropped. Malik on Majid's insistence; Raja under pressure from Zaheer.

Subsequently, in a surprise move, the selectors recalled both Latif and Sohail for December's Independence cup. This act indicated the PCB's inclination to counter the influence of a particular player lobby. Then, it did a volte face, and kow-towing to Akram's whim, dropped Latif for the Sharjah fixture. But Pakistan's defeat to England in a qualifying match came as the final blow for Akram who was once again accused of match-fixing. The rest followed.

The selectors did deliberate for some time on whether to drop Wasim and Waqar—after all the two have taken 600 wickets between them—but then reportedly went ahead with the sack in accordance with guidelines from PCB higher-ups. But pro-Akram selector Zaheer Abbas is still hopeful. "The team to South Africa will be announced midway through the Dhaka tournament," he told Outlook.

While Akram's career as captain is perhaps a closed chapter, Latif is most likely to occupy the hot seat for the South Africa and Zimbabwe tours. Says a PCB official: "Latif has been unofficially told that he could be leading the team on the South Africa and Zimbabwe tours—the message was conveyed to Latif by none other than Majid Khan. The two held a one-to-one meeting at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore last week. Latif has been appointed captain with an eye on the 1999 World Cup."

Latif, whose five-year cricket career is plagued with controversies, claims he is a changed man. "I am a different player now. I want to perform for the team and I think I have been selected because the side needs me. I want to forget the past. Sometimes, it seems like a nightmare."

But the point is when Latif steps on the turf at Dhaka to toss with reinstated Indian captain, Mohammed Azharuddin, the media may force him to confront the past—and a fresh episode of the betting scandal could well be on the cards.