Pakistan’s England tour has turned increasingly chaotic after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a sweeping mid-series overhaul following two heavy Test defeats. Seven players and two coaches were sent home, while selector Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the selection committee, adding to the growing uncertainty around the team.
Pakistan began the tour with a heavy innings-and-103-run defeat at Headingley before suffering another damaging loss at Lord’s, going down by 194 runs. The results prompted the PCB to make major changes despite the Test series still being underway.
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The manner in which the changes were communicated has also come under scrutiny. Reports said several of the players learned that they were being sent home through messages from friends and family rather than directly from the team management.
Players reportedly left in the dark
Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal and Awais Zafar were among those removed from the squad.
According to reports, some players were in London on their day off while others were at the team hotel when the PCB announcement began circulating. One player was reportedly so surprised that he read the official statement multiple times before believing it was genuine.
The departures of Rizwan and Imam have attracted particular attention. Rizwan’s removal was reportedly linked not only to his form but also to concerns within the PCB about his influence in the dressing room. His batting approach during the series was also said to have frustrated senior officials.
Imam’s injury has become another major point of contention. The batter did not bat in either innings at Lord’s because of a calf problem. The PCB is seeking clarity over when he reported the injury, what medical assessments were conducted and why he was ultimately unable to take part with the bat.
Coaches also shown the door
The PCB’s overhaul extended to the coaching staff, with Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul also sent home.
Sarfaraz had relatively limited experience in senior coaching before being appointed to the Test role. Gul, meanwhile, reportedly faced criticism after pointing to cold weather as one of the factors behind Pakistan’s poor performance at Headingley.
The changes were followed by Misbah-ul-Haq stepping down from the selection committee. He also resigned from his batting consultant position at the National Cricket Academy. Reports suggested Misbah had not been consulted before the decision to remove the players and coaches.
Aaqib Javed defends PCB’s move
Aaqib Javed, Pakistan’s director of high performance and a member of the selection committee, has defended the PCB’s decision.
Aaqib argued that while selectors were responsible for assembling the squad alongside the captain and coach, the team management had to select the right combination for each Test.
He said he had advised captain Babar Azam and the coaching staff to consider fast bowler Ubaid Shah for the Lord’s Test. Aaqib also suggested that wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori should have played instead of Rizwan.
He was particularly critical of the circumstances surrounding Imam’s injury and said the batter would have to face an inquiry. However, Aaqib stopped short of accusing him of deliberately faking the injury.
Despite the turmoil, Aaqib said he had no plans to resign and insisted Pakistan still had considerable talent. The Test side has also been placed under Mike Hesson, who is primarily associated with Pakistan’s white-ball setup, for the Edgbaston match.
With selection disputes, player communication issues, coaching changes and poor results all colliding, Pakistan’s England tour has become as much a story about off-field instability as it is about cricket
