An undignified end ... probably

When Rashid Latif made his debut in the Oval Test of 1992 few, including himself, could envisage the course his career would take. Latif kept unobtrusively and athletically that day, as was to become his hallmark, and added to it by compiling a refined fifty.

There were a couple of punches off the back foot through square cover, on top of his toes, which prompted Henry Blofeld to comment on what a "beautiful figure" Latif cut on the field. Then, he seemed set to replace Moin Khan as Pakistan's first-choice wicketkeeper. Yet in the 12 years since, he has played in only 36 more Tests, and memories of that accomplished debut recede every time he makes the news now. In a country not short of temperamental, complex, enigmatic cricketers, Latif has been a breed apart. No cricketer has aroused as many different emotions; he brings on as much justified criticism as he does praise. Just what do you make of him?

Ostensibly, he is forthright, outspoken, principled and brave. He has worked tirelessly to eliminate match-fixing, to harness talent in Karachi, and to rebuild the Pakistan side after last year's World Cup. But there is also a careless, dangerous eccentricity that has marked his career. Running parallel to his efforts to cleanse and enhance the game are incidents which have dented his public image of crusader extraordinaire.

There was the alleged racist slur at Adam Gilchrist in last year's World Cup, or the flimsy charges of match-fixing which he levelled at the fourth one-dayer between Pakistan and India at Lahore earlier this year. There has been the constant ambiguity of his retirement plans - he "retired" in 1994-95 after the match-fixing scandal first broke, and then again from Tests in November 2002. That floored catch he claimed against Bangladesh last year, which led to a five-match ban and what seems to be his final removal from the team, was among the more infamous in a line of incidents that have defied explanation and evoked ambivalence. In all this, it has been difficult to defend Latif, and harder still to reconcile with his image. And now again his behaviour comes under question - although this time the Pakistan Cricket Board's reaction demands equal scrutiny.

Latif conceded a domestic match while leading Karachi Blues against Faisalabad last week, because of what he claimed was a dangerous, unfit pitch. On the surface, at least, he wanted to protect his players. There is no doubt that regulations have been breached - it is not up to one team to decide that the pitch is unfit - and that disciplinary action was necessary, but only after a due process of investigation. Given the unprecedented nature of the incident, and its grave implications, this process surely warranted a meeting between Latif and the Board. Shaharyar Khan, the Board's chairman, says he based his decision on the views of the match referee, the umpires, the domestic tournament monitoring committee, a national selector ... and a letter from Latif to the match referee.

The domestic regulations state that "If a match is conceded, the points scored by the defaulting team during the tournament ... will be nullified and the team will be scratched from the tournament ... in addition a fine of 15,000 rupees shall be imposed."

According to the PCB, their chairman "has exercised his discretion in deciding that the Karachi Blues team would be allowed to continue participating ... and that no fine or restriction would be imposed on them..." The PCB says he made this decision "in view of the fact that Latif appears to have acted independently".

But there is no evidence here: views have been garnered from various players in the drama, and not from the instigator. A unilateral decision seems to have been taken. Why single Latif out? He was captain at the time, but stated that the decision was taken along with his team members. If it is natural that the captain gives the unified views of his team, how do you distinguish an independent decision from a group one?

Furthermore, the punishment was taken him bearing in mind that Latif has acted in "such a precipitous manner" before. What were they referring to here? That catch? His comments on match-fixing? That last incident occurred while he wasn't with the board or the team in any official capacity, yet it seems that it's now being used against him. Those incidents bear no relation to what he did last week - an act, which by its unique nature, demands examination in isolation.

The relationship between the PCB and Rashid Latif has always been prickly. His outspoken views have rarely endeared him to successive boards over his career: indeed, they have often been embarrassing. He has been tolerated, rather than welcomed, and when possible they have tried to remove him altogether. He hasn't helped himself, but this time it seems the PCB is falling over itself to remove him swiftly and arbitrarily.

This season there had been increasing calls for his recall to the national team, something the Board seemed reluctant to countenance. Now he is banned for six months, and out of contention for the next three series. Is this just a convenient way for the PCB to oust him from Pakistan cricket one last time? If this is the end - which is by no means certain - then, given the promise of that 1992 debut, it is an undignified one.