“Bacha Jamura Cricket?” — Rashid Latif explodes over PCB’s ‘puppet show’

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), calling out its treatment of Mohammad Rizwan, Multan Sultans, and a growing list of sidelined cricketers. In a blistering social media post, he accused the board of operating like a “bacha jamura” puppet show, where selectors and captains only follow instructions from unseen masters.

Latif questioned why key players like Mohammad Haris and Salman Mirza were consistently benched while others, such as Usman Khan and Naseem Shah, parachuted into the playing XI with minimal recent domestic involvement. He also highlighted the musical chairs of batting positions for wicketkeepers like Haris, Farhan, and Usman, suggesting there’s no vision — only favoritism.

“The PCB wants puppets. The coach, selection committee, and captain all just follow the ringmaster's command,” Latif wrote, as Rashid Latif slams PCB.

In a significant allegation, he referenced Multan Sultans’ suspension notice, criticizing the PCB for retaliating against Ali Tareen simply because he voiced concerns about franchise issues. “They didn't even spare the biggest investor in PSL,” Latif stated, pointing toward the sudden suspension notice issued after Tareen’s public remarks.

Latif didn't stop there. He exposed what he sees as systemic exclusion — not just of players but of entire “qabeelas” (tribes). He claimed the board, like the country, has been taken over by a select elite protecting only their kind, while silencing dissenters and isolating critics.

Using statistics to strengthen his case, Latif shared performance data showing how batters like Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Haris, Usman Khan, and Hasan Nawaz have been shuffled across batting positions, never allowed to settle — a trend he blames on weak, agenda-driven leadership.

"This isn't cricket anymore. This is a puppet show where 'Bacha Jamura' dances at the master's call," he concluded.