And now Rashid Latif has been granted a new lease of life in a team suddenly bereft of the Waqars, Wasims and Inzamams so readily associated with that famous team.

Born: 14 October 1968, Karachi Tests: 34 1,385 runs (avge. 22.72) 102 catches, 10 stumpings ODIs: 158 1,628 runs (avge 19.85) 172 catches, 36 stumpings

In a similar sort of way that Darren Gough has been retained as a father figure to guide England's inexperienced one-day players, Rashid has a similar job to do for Pakistan.

But whereas Gough has bravely battled back to some sort of fitness after months on the sidelines, Latif was thinking of hanging up his boots after the World Cup.

In an interview with BBC Urdu just after cricket's biggest tournament started in South Africa in mid-February, Latif essentially tendered his resignation.

The idea was that after a 10-year career fighting for the role of international wicket-keeper with Moin Khan, he would concentrate on domestic cricket.

Latif was a key figure in exposing the match-fixing scandals of the 1990s.

Latif's future: Targeting anti-corruption role

His international career came under pressure as a result of making claims against team-mates following the 1994-95 tour to Zimbabwe.

He later gave evidence against some of the Pakistan players to the Qayyum commission, one of two judicial inquiries conducted into allegations of corruption against Pakistan players.

Salim Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman received life bans as a result of the Qayyum inquiry, and six other players, including current Pakistan captain Waqar Younis, were fined.

Latif, having missed the World Cup win in 1992 and also the 1999 edition, was pumped up for the tournament earlier this year.

Most of these faces are just names in the past now

But his enthusiasm bubbled over after he was accused of making a racist remark by Australia's Adam Gilchrist when the two teams met in their opening group game.

It was all rather surprising that Latif was the only member of the old guard to survive the post-World Cup clear-out.

After all, not only had he been one of the few people to actively request retirement, his career had never achieved cult status in the way Wasim, Waqar's and Inzamam's had.

But out went that exalted trio and we may never see them again.

Even Saqlain Mushtaq was cast to the four winds, though Shoaib Akhtar, after missing a tournament in Sharjah, returned for the following event in Sri Lanka.

Remarkably, Latif steeled his young recruits to defy expectations. They won in Sharjah and reached the final in Sri Lanka, eliminating the hosts in the process.

When Pakistan play Scotland on Saturday in Glasgow, Latif will be one of the few recognisable faces on show.

Even in June, Scotland is known for its chilly weather, but though he may need to pull on an extra sweater or two, Latif should feel warm inside.

In February, his team were losing match after match in South Africa.