BeNewz
Related Articles
Abdullah Zahid
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has overhauled its Test squad and coaching setup during the ongoing tour of England, releasing seven players and two coaches following the team’s disastrous start to the series.
According to an official PCB statement, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have been released from the Test squad, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been removed from their roles. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have been added to the support staff to take over Test coaching duties.
Background: A Pattern of Failure
The decision comes after Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the second Test at Lord’s, handing England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with one Test still remaining. Pakistan had already lost the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before falling by 194 runs at Lord’s.
The changes reflect a deeper decline rather than a single bad series. The Lord’s defeat marked Pakistan’s tenth loss in their last eleven away Tests, pushing the side’s overall win-loss ratio below 1 for the first time since 1987. Analysts have pointed to the batting unit in particular as the core problem — since January 2025, Pakistan has recorded the worst batting average of any World Test Championship side.
Social Media and Public Reaction
The announcement triggered a strong wave of reaction online. Wisden editor Lawrence Booth characterized the move as further evidence of ongoing dysfunction within Pakistan cricket. Separately, the circumstances of Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury also drew scrutiny; Australian batter David Warner shared footage of Imam training on the sidelines and publicly questioned whether the injury had genuinely prevented him from batting, a post that quickly went viral and drew widespread mockery from fans.
Expert Analysis
Cricket commentators have described the timing of the shake-up as both overdue and controversial. Reports indicate the PCB has also opened an inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq’s injury, given that he did not bat in either innings at Lord’s despite being seen training on the field. Mohammad Rizwan has faced heavy criticism over his form and a string of what pundits called irresponsible dismissals. Some observers have cautioned that fielding several uncapped players in a single, series-deciding Test represents a significant gamble at a critical juncture.
