Pakistan cricket turns into a circus

Its time for a strong Players’ Association

Sports DeskSeptember 02, 20263 min readBabar Azam addresses his team’s huddle ahead of the second day of the Lord’s Test match. Photo: AFP

Pakistan cricket has entered one of the most embarrassing phases in its history, with the ongoing 2026 England Test series exposing not only the team’s weaknesses on the field but also creating alarming instability in the boardroom.

The latest controversy erupted after Pakistan suffered a heavy 194-run defeat to England at Lord’s. With the Pakistan Cricket Board’s top hierarchy present, the defeat was followed almost immediately by news that seven players would be sent home and replaced for the remaining tour. The PCB subsequently confirmed the decision through an official press release.

The timing and manner of the move have raised serious questions.

Changes to a squad during an overseas Test series are not unprecedented, but the scale and the abrupt manner in which this decision was taken has left Pakistan cricket looking directionless. If the selectors and team management had lost faith in certain players, the changes could have been made after the conclusion of the series.

Instead, the PCB has once again created a controversy that has overshadowed cricket itself.

For several years, only a handful of individuals have appeared to control the direction of Pakistan cricket. Their repeated administrative experiments and sudden decisions have increasingly given the impression of a system searching for scapegoats rather than solutions.

The treatment of Mohammad Rizwan is perhaps the most striking example.

Rizwan, who has also captained Pakistan, played a key role when Pakistan secured series victories in Australia and South Africa. Yet after struggling with the bat in England, he was among those sent home. His batting form certainly requires improvement, but there is little doubt that he remains Pakistan’s premier wicket-keeper.

His selection for the England and West Indies tours was hardly surprising. In Sylhet against Bangladesh in May, Rizwan had produced a fighting 94 when Pakistan’s batting line-up struggled against the hosts’ bowling attack. He also scored 59 in the first innings of the Mirpur Test. On that evidence, dropping him from the touring squad altogether was difficult to justify.

Imam-ul-Haq’s case is different. The left-hander suffered a calf injury and missed both innings at Lord’s. His fitness should be assessed carefully rather than becoming another subject of speculation.

The controversy deepened when the PCB bureaucracy sought an explanation from the selection committee over the inclusion of Rizwan and Imam for the England and West Indies tours. Senior selector Misbah-ul-Haq subsequently resigned, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already troubled system.

Aaqib Javed, who holds multiple important responsibilities within Pakistan cricket, has emerged as one of the most influential figures in the current set-up. The concentration of authority in the hands of a few individuals has become a growing concern.

The humiliation has not been limited to players. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmad, who led Pakistan to Champions Trophy glory, and bowling coach Umar Gul, a former Pakistan pace spearhead who has rendered distinguished services to the country, have also found themselves caught in the turmoil.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi now faces a defining challenge. His position gives him enormous authority, and his role in cricket administration can still help Pakistan cricket recover but only if he is willing to make difficult decisions.

The PCB needs people of integrity, experience and cricketing credibility. Former cricketers with strong reputations should have a greater voice in decision-making, while arbitrary mid-tour interventions must end.

Pakistan cricket does not need another turmoil. It needs stability, accountability and a clear cricketing vision.

Sending seven players home in the middle of an overseas Test series has left Pakistan cricket embarrassed on the international stage. The question now is whether the PCB will learn from the fiasco, or simply prepare for the next one.

Following such a high disgrace players now should think for forming Players’ Association, a representative body, which could safeguard their interests. Such step will leave a good impact on players’ future. But who will take this step is a difficult question to answer.