Pakistan Cricketers Slammed for Private Dinner Controversy

Pakistan cricket has once again found itself embroiled in controversy, this time involving a private dinner hosted by the national team. Former captain Rashid Latif has expressed outrage over the event, which allowed fans to meet players for a fee of $25.

Latif, speaking on a talk show, condemned the dinner as "terrible" and a violation of the team's professional conduct. He questioned the players' motives, suggesting that they were more interested in financial gain than representing their country.

"Who can do this? It's terrible. That means you met our players in 25 dollars," Latif said. "God forbid, had there been a mess, people would have said boys are earning money."

The host of the show, Kamran Muzaffer, echoed Latif's sentiments, emphasizing that such events are inappropriate for players on national duty. Pakistani television personality Nauman Niaz also criticized the team, calling it a "sad state of affairs."

Latif further alleged that Pakistan players have become accustomed to asking for money in exchange for appearances. "People tell me that whoever calls the Pakistan players, they just ask, 'how much money will you give?' This has become common," he said.

The controversy comes at a crucial time for Pakistan, which is set to face archrivals India in the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Latif urged the players to exercise caution and avoid such distractions.

"The amount of 25 dollars shouldn't be blatantly used like this," he said. "You can go for charity dinners and fundraisers, but this is neither fundraising nor a charity dinner. This is a private function with the name of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket associated with it. Don't make this mistake."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet commented on the controversy. However, the incident has raised questions about the team's professionalism and focus ahead of the high-stakes match against India.

Tags: #PakistanCricket, #RashidLatif, #PrivateDinner, #T20WorldCup, #IndiaPakistanRivalry