NEW DELHI: Rashid Latif, regarded as one of Pakistan’s finest wicketkeepers, shares a fascinating and personal connection to India that extends beyond the cricket field. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Rashid is the son of Abdul Latif Quraishi, who migrated from Uttar Pradesh, India, to Pakistan during the 1950s.
Interestingly, while Abdul Latif settled in Pakistan, Rashid’s half-brother, Shahid Latif, chose to remain in India, where he built a career working for a newspaper in Kolkata in West Bengal.
In a video currently making waves on social media, Latif, who represented Pakistan in 37 Tests and 166 ODIs between 1992 and 2003, spoke candidly about his Indian roots.
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Mulq chhod diya hai iska matlab logo ko bhul thodi na jayenge. Rang to neela hi rahega na humara to. Ek humare bhai Sultanpur mein rehte hain and humari 90 percent family Sultanpur mein rehti hai. Goro nei aisi hi nahi Uttar Pradesh ka naam Upper Province rakha tha ["Leaving the country doesn’t mean we’ll forget the people. Our color will still remain blue, won’t it? One of my brothers lives in Sultanpur, and 90 percent of my family resides there too. The British didn’t name Uttar Pradesh the ‘Upper Province’ without reason]," Latif said.
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Politics mein and brain mein and gaaliyon mein number one Uttar Pradesh. Hum log waha se hain. Toh panga nahi lene ka apan se. [In politics, intelligence, and even abuses, Uttar Pradesh is number one. That’s where we come from. So, it’s better not to mess with us]," the former Pakistan wicketkeeper said.
WATCH:Latif’s illustrious career saw him score 1,381 runs in Tests at an average of 28.77, including one century and seven half-centuries.
In ODIs, he scored 1,709 runs at 19.42, with three fifties.
Behind the stumps, Latif took 301 catches and made 49 stumpings in international cricket.
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