Rashid Latif urges PCB to shield Babar from English media

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reduce Babar Azam’s media commitments during the upcoming Test tour of England, warning that the Pakistan skipper could face intense scrutiny from the English press.

Pakistan have arrived in England for a three-match Test series, with Babar returning to the leadership role in red-ball cricket. The series begins at Headingley in Leeds on August 19 and will continue at Lord’s before concluding at Edgbaston in September.

Speaking on a television programme, Latif described an England tour as a challenging assignment and suggested that the PCB should carefully manage Babar’s interactions with the local media.

According to the former wicketkeeper-batter, the English press can generate considerable attention around visiting teams, potentially creating distractions away from the cricket.

“An England tour is a difficult assignment,” Latif said, adding that the PCB should consider keeping Babar away from frequent media appearances.

His suggestion is not to isolate the captain completely, but rather to share the responsibility of representing the team with other experienced players.

Latif specifically recommended Shan Masood, who previously led Pakistan in Test cricket and has considerable experience of playing in England. He believes Masood is well equipped to handle difficult questions and media pressure.

The former captain also identified Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Abbas as players who could take on media duties during the tour.

Babar was reappointed Pakistan’s Test captain in July, replacing Shan Masood after his stint in charge. The PCB confirmed Babar as captain for both the West Indies and England Test tours.

Pakistan’s immediate challenge will be to carry the momentum from their recent Test victory over the West Indies, where they secured an eight-wicket win in Port of Spain to level the two-match series 1-1.

The England assignment will test Babar both as a batter and captain. With the spotlight likely to remain firmly on him, Latif’s advice raises an interesting question: could fewer media commitments help Babar focus more sharply on Pakistan’s battle in English conditions?

The first Test will be played in Leeds from August 19–23, followed by Lord’s from August 27–31 and Birmingham from September 9–13.

Pakistan squad for England Tests

Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.