"He could take over BCCI or ICC" - Former Pakistan captain on R Ashwin's retirement after 3rd BGT 2024-25 Test
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif hailed Ravichandran Ashwin as a genius of the game, following the Indian off-spinner's sudden international retirement during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The 38-year-old announced his retirement immediately after the third India-Australia Test in Brisbane.
While Ashwin was not part of India's playing XI in the Brisbane outing, he played the previous game in Adelaide. The champion off-spinner returned home the day after the third Test in the middle of the five-match series, leading to massive speculations around the decision.
However, Latif praised Ashwin in a conversation with IANS and said (as quoted by News18):
"As a cricketer, as a genius of the game, there are many cricketers in India, but Ashwin is on a different level. His qualities are of a different level. I believe that in the future, he could take over BCCI or ICC as he’s that capable. He is very humble, and you wouldn’t even realize that he’s such a big cricketer. Best wishes to him from my side, from Pakistan. He’s had an outstanding career. Look at him; as a batter, Ashwin has six [Test] centuries, which Dhoni probably doesn’t even have."
Ashwin finished as the seventh leading wicket-taker in Tests with 537 scalps at an average of 24 in 106 matches He is also India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, and overall (765), behind only Anil Kumble.
"Maybe he hasn’t received the respect he deserves in the dressing room" - Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif felt Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement call stemmed out of a lack of respect for the veteran cricketer in the Indian dressing room.
Despite a stellar Test record, the 38-year-old played only one of the first three Australian Tests. Ashwin has also warmed the benches several times in Tests in SENA countries, with the team management preferring Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spin option.
"Ashwin, as a cricketer, maybe he hasn’t received the respect he deserves in the dressing room; I don’t know about it. He’s wondering if he’ll be in the playing XI or not. He’s the world’s No. 3 bowler, and taking 537 wickets for India is a huge achievement," said Latif.
He added:
"Perhaps he feels that his career might be nearing its end, especially when players like Washington Sundar are getting preference, so he might be deciding whether he’ll play in the Sydney Test or not, whether he’ll play in Melbourne or not. At some point, a person reaches a boiling point."
Unfortunately for Ashwin, Team India suffered defeats in his final four Test outings - three against New Zealand at home and the Adelaide Test. The 38-year-old will continue playing club cricket, with his next appearance on the field likely to be for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025.