Former cricketers have strongly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decision to release seven players and two coaches from the Test squad ahead of the third and final Test against England in Birmingham.
The criticism followed the PCB’s announcement on Monday that Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad will leave the squad.
The board also released coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke set to join the backroom staff.
Pakistan named seven replacements for the final Test, including five uncapped players. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have previous Test experience, also returned to the squad.
The major changes came after Pakistan lost the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs, leaving Babar Azam’s side 2-0 down in the three-match series. England had already secured an unassailable lead after winning the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi questioned both the timing and selection of the replacements.
“Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision! Even the replacements make no sense,” Afridi wrote on X.
He also questioned the inclusion of players with limited red-ball experience and the decision to remove a coach after only five Test matches.
Former Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur described the PCB’s latest changes as another example of the instability that has affected the team.
“Absolutely ridiculous decisions by the PCB. This is the reason they are in the mess they are because they constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors,” Arthur wrote.
He argued that Pakistan needed planning, stability and structure to produce consistent performances.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen also expressed disbelief over the scale of the changes, writing: “What on this mighty planet am I reading about Pakistan making all these changes and sending players home etc?”
Former Pakistan cricketer Sikandar Bakht criticised the decision to bring seven new players into the squad for the final match of the series. He particularly questioned the omission of Salman Ali Agha and Rizwan, arguing that the final Test could have helped the selectors assess their futures.
“Bringing in 7 new players for the last game is a blunder,” Bakht wrote, adding that Agha and Rizwan should have been given an opportunity to play the final Test.
Commentator Harsha Bhogle also highlighted the dramatic changes Pakistan have made during the series, pointing to Salman Ali Agha’s journey from captaining the side in the first Test to being released before the third match.
“Trust Pakistan cricket to do the unbelievable,” Bhogle wrote.
He also questioned the timing of the coaching changes and noted that the replacement players would have limited time to prepare for a Test match in England.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik took a different approach in his criticism, focusing on the treatment of the players released from the squad.
“The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan,” Malik wrote.
He said accountability should focus on those responsible for decisions that damaged the system rather than players who had spent much of the series on the bench or played only a handful of Tests. Malik also argued that accountability should take place after a tour rather than in the middle of a series.
Pakistan will play the third and final Test match starting on September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
