Latif denies influencing Younis over team combination and tactics

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Lahore, June 25 (ANI): Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has rejected media reports that said he had influenced captain Younis Khan to field certain players in key matches of the ICC Twenty20 World Championship.

Rashid laughed-off the reports, saying he had no role in the team management, and whatever decisions Khan had taken during the tournament regarding team composition were purely his own.

"How can I give such an advice when I am not part of team management. It is ridiculous to suggest anything of the sort. This is baseless propaganda against me," The Dawn quoted Latif, as saying.

It may be noted that certain media reports indicated that it was Latif who had advised Khan to promote young batsman Shahzaib Hasan to open the innings with Kamran Akmal.

It was also reported that Latif told Khan to change the batting order and send Shahid Afridi up the order, and play off-spinner Fawad Alam on a regular basis.

Commenting on the Pakistan team's amazing performance of coming from behind and winning the Championship, Latif said it was a fitting reply to all those who are trying to alienate Pakistan from international cricket. (ANI)