Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended the major changes made to the national Test squad and coaching staff, insisting that the decisions were necessary after Pakistan suffered two heavy defeats against England in the ongoing Test series.
Pakistan are scheduled to play the third and final Test against England from September 9. However, with England already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead, the PCB has made significant changes ahead of the final match.
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Pakistan lost the opening Test by an innings before suffering a 194-run defeat in the second match. The results triggered widespread criticism from former cricketers, analysts and supporters, with questions raised over the direction of the national team.
Naqvi hits back at critics
Responding to the criticism, Naqvi said he was not worried about the backlash surrounding the PCB’s decisions. He argued that the changes were required to address the team’s situation and insisted that he had never been afraid of criticism.
“I have never been afraid of criticism, and I never will be. Those who say cricket has been destroyed since I came – look at what the rankings were before,” Naqvi said, as quoted by Geo News.
The PCB chairman also pointed towards Pakistan’s performances in white-ball cricket during his tenure while acknowledging the team’s disappointing results in the Test series against England.
Naqvi said he was looking at issues beyond the team’s immediate performances but suggested that this was not the appropriate time to discuss matters unrelated to cricket.
Seven players released from Test squad
The PCB’s biggest move came after the second Test, when seven players were released from Pakistan’s squad.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were among those removed from the squad.
They were replaced by five uncapped players, while Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal were also brought into the group. The two have only 10 matches of experience between them.
The new additions include Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah.
The overhaul has highlighted the PCB’s willingness to give younger and less experienced players an opportunity following Pakistan’s poor start to the series.
Coaching staff also reshuffled
The changes have extended beyond the playing squad. Pakistan have also reshaped their coaching set-up ahead of the final Test.
Mike Hesson has been appointed head coach, while Ashley Noffke has taken over as bowling coach. Both coaches are already part of Pakistan’s white-ball coaching structure.
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, who had been involved in the Test coaching set-up, were released from their respective roles.
The changes come at a turbulent time for Pakistan cricket, with the team’s Test performances under intense scrutiny. The final Test against England will now provide the first opportunity to assess whether the PCB’s sweeping changes can produce an immediate response.
For Naqvi and the PCB, the focus will be on rebuilding confidence while developing a Test squad capable of delivering more consistent results.
