PCB denies 'cold-shouldering Latif due to England pressure' report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly denied the report that board is not urging Rashid Latif to change his decision of declining the chief selector's job because the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is pressurizing to keep banned Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria out of cricket.

Sources have reportedly revealed that the ECB had not been happy with the news of PCB's job offer to Latif because it felt that the former Pakistani captain had been directly supporting Kaneria over the issue of a life ban being imposed on the bowler.

According to The Dawn, the PCB clarified that at no stage, the ECB or any of its officials, comment formally or informally on Rashid Latif's appointment as chief selector.

The statement further said that PCB chairman Najam Sethi took the decision to appoint Latif on merit, despite being aware of the fact of his sympathies in the Kaneria case, adding that it is a measure of PCB's independent thinking in the interest of Pakistan cricket that it chose to nominate Latif.

However, the statement concluded that Latif did not reciprocate the sentiment and pulled out consciously and 'let PCB down'.