Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to let Captain Babar Azam interact with the English media during the country’s upcoming three-Test match series in England.
The Pakistan team has arrived in England for the series and will play its first match with the hosts at Headingley, Leeds, on August 19-23 under the leadership of Babar.
On Score, a sports TV show, Rashid stated that the PCB must devise a policy to reduce Babar’s interactions with the media, especially during his England tour given the heavy questions that can be thrown at him during that period.
Rashid added that an England tour is tough and the English media may try to unnecessarily entangle visiting teams in news reports.
He thinks that Babar, one of the top names in Pakistan, will be able to draw attention in the series.
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Former captain Shan Masood should be the one interacting with the English media, Rashid Latif further recommended.
He also said that “Babar Azam is an experienced player, so it would be better for the PCB management to keep him away from the English media and bring out Shan Masood, former Pakistan captain, to speak to them more often.”
Rashid also recalled Shan’s stint in England where he interacted with the local media, stating that he is now more prepared for the English news outlets.
He also recommended Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Abbas as candidates for the media post.
The three-Test series is the first time Pakistan is visiting England since 2020 and is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
The second Test will be held at Lord’s from August 27-31, and the third Test is set to take place at Edgbaston on September 9-13 after the opening Test was held at Headingley.
Pakistan have just tied their two-Test-match series against the West Indies 1-1 in the recent past. They will play a four-day warm-up match with a Select XI from 12th to 15th August before facing England.
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