Latif supporters called on the head of Pakistan Cricket to quit

Latif admitted he had also considered retirement, but decided to continue his playing career after being urged to do so by family, friends and supporters.

"I was flooded with phone calls and e-mails demanding that I should not quit at this juncture," he said.

Latif spoke out after more than 200 people gathered in Karachi to demand his reinstatement as skipper.

"There was no pressure on me from the [Pakistan Cricket] Board.

Latif did not feel comfortable as captain, but he remains part of the set-up Inzamam-ul-Haq

"It was not a hasty decision to step down as captain. I thought it out," he said.

One of the organisers of the protest, Mohammad Saleem, claimed a match-fixing and betting "mafia" wanted Latif out of the team.

He blew the whistle on team-mates during a 1995 tour, accusing them of throwing matches.

But new skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq insisted there was no "controversy" behind Latif's resignation.

"Latif did not feel comfortable as captain, but he remains part of the set-up and his influence will be there in the rebuilding of the team.

"The recovery after the World Cup was led by Latif and the rebuilding is going the right way," he said.

Pakistan are set to host South Africa for two Tests and five one-day internationals next month after the tourists accepted a revised itinerary which did not include matches in Karachi and Peshawar.

They originally cancelled the tour following a bomb explosion in Karachi last week.

Pakistan recently completed a Test and one-day series whitewash against Bangladesh, but Graeme Smith's side will present a tougher challenge.

"Ours is a talented side and I am confident that we will achieve good results, Inzamam added.