Rashid Latif prefers Sarfaraz over Haris as backup wicket-keeper for ODIs

Rashid Latif expressed his views on the selection of wicketkeeper Muhammad Haris for Asia Cup and the exclusion of former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed. 

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Latif acknowledged Haris' talent but questioned the timing of his induction into the ODI format.

"We respect all the decisions that have been made, but no one can stop us from giving an opinion. Haris is an excellent player who has performed brilliantly in T20 lately. Moreover, he's a dangerous powerplay player; his strike rate is outstanding. But I believe his career in ODIs will start after World Cup. It is possible that he'll perform extraordinarily in Asia Cup, too; however, in today's date, Sarfaraz is an experienced player, and he should've been selected in the squad. It looks very convenient to sideline a player and pave the way for the newer one," Latif said.

Latif emphasized the importance of Sarfaraz's experience, particularly in high-pressure tournaments. He also highlighted the potential pitfalls of sidelining seasoned players for newer ones.

"Haris is an extremely talented player, but his story should've begun after the World Cup. He has been with the team for two years but didn't play much ODI's as such. Sarfaraz deserved to be a part of the squad. Whatever the outcome of the World Cup, whether we win or lose, you have to make changes. Players like Saud Shakeel and Muhammad Haris have long cricket after World Cup in ODI format," he further added.

The Asia Cup 2023, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will start on August 30, while the final is scheduled for September 17. On the other hand, World Cup is set to start on October 5 in India.