The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced significant changes to its squad and coaching staff ahead of the third Test against England at Edgbaston on September 9, following successive defeats in the first two matches.
The board replaced almost half of the Test squad and released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed along with bowling coach Umar Gul after Pakistan’s 194-run loss in the second Test left England with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The first Test had ended in an innings defeat for Pakistan.
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The PCB also called on its selection committee for written explanations regarding the selection of Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq, issuing the notice on the same day as the squad changes were announced. The committee was asked to provide details on the selection process within 24 hours.
Seven players were released from the squad: Mohammad
Seven players were released from the squad: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. They were replaced by five uncapped players—Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah—along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who together have experience in only ten matches. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, already part of Pakistan’s white-ball coaching team, have joined the Test coaching staff.
Former Pakistan players Saeed Ajmal and Kamran Akmal criticised the PCB’s handling of the team changes. Ajmal wrote on X, “Pakistan Cricket Has Become a Gimmick now! Disappointed with the professionalism. #pakistancricket.” Akmal posted: “Pakistan cricket ki Misaal poori duniya main nahi hai…Is se bara mazak nahi ho sakta during series they made 7 changes including management selection committee members resignations when will we run our cricket with professionalism?”
Ex-Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik also responded to a comment by former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen regarding the length of toss interviews, joking, “Don’t think the broadcasters would be comfortable with that. Need to get player mugshots first.”
Earlier, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq submitted his resignation
Earlier, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq submitted his resignation from the national selection committee and his role as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore following the PCB’s decisions. The board has not yet accepted his resignation. Misbah has held several roles within the PCB, including head coach and chief selector.
Pakistan currently sit at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings, having lost 15 of their last 20 Tests. They aim to avoid a 3-0 series defeat at Edgbaston.
The Pakistan squad for the Edgbaston Test is as follows: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, and Ubaid Shah.
Source: thenewsmill.com
