Karachi, November 22, 2025: The prolonged standoff between former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ended on Saturday after Latif unconditionally withdrew his previous remarks about the board and issued a public apology.
The controversy began when Latif suggested that Mohammad Rizwan’s removal from the national men’s ODI captaincy was linked to the wicketkeeper-batter’s public support for Palestine. In response, the PCB lodged a complaint against Latif with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which summoned him to appear at their Lahore office on November 17. Latif later challenged the inquiry in the Islamabad High Court, calling it unlawful.
In a detailed statement posted on microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), Latif clarified that his comments were not intended to allege wrongdoing by any player, PCB member, or other stakeholders.
“I write with reference to my recent comments made on social media and in interviews concerning surrogate advertising. My principal contention was related to potential violations of the advisories upon such advertising issued by the Government of Pakistan,” Latif wrote. “At no point, whether inadvertently or deliberately, have I ever sought or intended to implicate any individual including players, board members, or other stakeholders in wrongdoing.”
Regarding his remarks on Rizwan, Latif admitted he had made an “unwarranted reference” to the batter’s support for Palestine as a possible reason for his removal from captaincy. He acknowledged that his assumptions were unfounded and unsupported by credible evidence.
“I deeply regret any distress or offence that my comments may have caused to the general public, or more specifically, to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its officials,” Latif said. “I offer my sincere apologies for any unintended harm arising from my remarks, which I withdraw unconditionally.” He further pledged that his future commentary on cricketing affairs would be measured, evidence-based, and free from conjecture, reaffirming his commitment to responsible broadcasting and research-based journalism.
The apology received a mixed response. Former PCB Chairman Najam Sethi initially defended Latif but later deleted his post after current PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi described Sethi’s comments as “completely misplaced, ill-timed and factually incorrect.”
Naqvi emphasised that the board’s action against Latif was not about silencing criticism, but aimed at addressing the deliberate spread of false and defamatory allegations. He welcomed Latif’s apology and reiterated that PCB members remain committed to protecting Pakistan cricket and its players.
“Rashid Latif has apologised in his tweet today, clearly affirming the Board’s stance. We welcome his apology and offer a clean slate,” Naqvi said. “We do not use any other means to silence those who criticise the Board. We protect Pakistan cricket and its assets.”
