Former Pakistan cricket team captain Rashid Latif has stated that the national side performs well against weaker teams but faces significant challenges when competing against stronger opponents.
Speaking to a private television channel, Rashid Latif said that if preparations before the match against India are examined, Pakistan had mainly played against comparatively weaker teams. He noted that the team competed and secured victories against sides such as Oman, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the United States, but when facing stronger teams, visible difficulties emerged.
He pointed out that over the past year, Pakistan has lost four matches to India while managing only one win in five matches against New Zealand, raising concerns about the team’s consistency.
Latif also remarked that the Australian and South African teams that toured Pakistan were not at full strength, which provided relatively easier competition for the home side.
He further stated that Pakistan’s team appears strongest when playing against weaker opponents, but in high-pressure contests, the side often requires a margin of 50 to 60 runs to stay competitive.
Criticising the team combination, Rashid Latif said that although several all-rounders are part of the squad, they are neither delivering effectively with the ball nor making significant contributions with the bat, which ultimately affects the team’s overall balance.
