PCB's abrupt squad overhaul sparks outrage after England Test defeats

Following a 2-0 defeat in the first two Tests against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced a sweeping reshuffle that saw seven cricketers sent home and two senior coaches dismissed. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were replaced by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke ahead of the third Test in Birmingham. Among those recalled were wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, injured opener Imam-ul-Haq, and former Test captain Salman Ali Agha, while all-rounder Aamir Jamal and batter Awais Zafar returned without playing.

Players reported learning of the decisions through social-media screenshots, describing the lack of direct notification as shocking and degrading. The episode has sparked scrutiny of the dismissed players' fitness, character and decision-making, and prompted former captain Misbah-ul-Haq to quit the selection committee after being excluded from the recall process.