Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has criticised Babar Azam for staying silent after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released seven players and two coaches from the Test squad ahead of the third and final Test against England in Birmingham.
Speaking during a discussion with Dr Nauman Niaz on YouTube, Latif said that Babar should have stepped down as captain the moment his team was pulled apart mid series.
“Babar should have resigned at this point,” Latif said, adding that if he were in that position, he would have walked away from the captaincy rather than accept it. He argued there is a clear difference between holding a title and actually leading a team, saying, “You may become a captain, but you become a leader through the trust and respect of the people.”
Latif pointed to the scale of the changes forced on the squad, saying, “Imam got injured, you have sent six players, you have sent your coach and mentor, a Champions Trophy winner.” He added, “You even sent Umar Gul,” questioning how the team could be expected to function after such senior figures were removed.
“I’m talking about basic humanity,” Latif said, arguing that Babar had effectively abandoned his team by not speaking out. He went on to say, “You have completely abandoned your team. They sacked your mentor and your leader, and now you’re sitting there silently.” He then asked, “This the kind of dummy captain they wanted?”
The PCB announced the changes on Monday, a day after Pakistan lost the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs. That result left the side facing an unassailable 2-0 deficit in the three match series, having already lost the opener by an innings and 103 runs.
The players released from the squad are Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were also released from their coaching roles and will be replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.
In their place, the board named seven replacements. Five of them, Azan Awais, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Muhammad Imran (also known as Imran Randhawa) and Razaullah, are yet to make their Test debuts. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have played eight and two Tests respectively, were also added, along with Arafat Minhas, a left-arm spinning all-rounder with three ODIs and four T20Is to his name.
Saad Baig arrives after being named Player of the Tournament at the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26.
Pakistan will play the third and final Test match starting on September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
