Pakistan drop seven players and release head coach
Pakistan cricket team revamps squad and releases head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed along with seven players following heavy Test defeats against England.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Pakistan drops seven players and releases head coach mid-series
- The team suffered two heavy consecutive Test defeats against England
- Seven new and experienced players are called up ahead of Edgbaston
The cricket world has been left stunned as the Pakistan national team took the unprecedented step of releasing their head coach and sending seven players home following a disastrous start to their Test series against England. After suffering two one-sided defeats at Headingley and Lord's, the touring side has completely overhauled its squad and backroom staff ahead of the third and final match of the series at Edgbaston on September 9.
Among the seven players sent packing are Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad, all of whom featured in the opening matches, alongside Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar who were sent home without making a single appearance. To fill the vacant spots, Pakistan has called up seven players, featuring experienced batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal alongside five uncapped newcomers: Arafat Minhas, Mohammed Imran Jr, Said Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In addition to the player clear-out, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul were relieved of their duties, making way for Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson and former Australia fast bowler Ashley Noffke. Taking such drastic measures to dismiss seven players and the coaching staff mid-tour is entirely unprecedented, especially after the team was bowled out for under 200 runs in all four of their opening innings.
This dramatic mid-series shake-up aligns with Pakistan's historical pattern of making eccentric and high-stakes decisions following defeats, reminiscent of their 2024 home series against England where they utilized unorthodox ground-drying methods in Multan to secure a comeback victory. The sweeping changes highlight the immense pressure on the management to reverse their fortunes and salvage pride in the final fixture.
The turmoil comes against a backdrop of intense controversy during the second Test at Lord's, where the Pakistan Cricket Board threatened to pull out of the tour over a broadcast interview featuring the sons of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan. While both captain Babar Azam and outgoing coach Sarfaraz distanced themselves from the threatened boycott, the mounting distractions have severely disrupted the team's campaign.
"Pakistan have not won a Test series in the UK for 30 years."
BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport
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