Pakistan summons home coaches and 7 players after brutal test cricket defeats in England

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan pushed the panic button after heavy defeats in the two cricket tests in England by replacing seven players and two coaches on Monday.

Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were summoned home by the Pakistan Cricket Board to be replaced by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke respectively for the third and final test in Birmingham starting on Sept. 9.

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, injured opening batter Imam-ul-Haq, first test captain Salman Ali Agha, spinner Ali Usman and pacer Khurram Shahzad — who all played in the second test defeat at Lord’s on Sunday — were also returning home. Allrounder Aamir Jamal and batter Awais Zafar were going with them without getting a game in England.

The wholesale changes in a series which Pakistan has already lost didn’t go down well with former Pakistan captains Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi.

“The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan,” Malik wrote on X. “Phrases like “sent on the first flight back” are disrespectful … Plus accountability starts once a tour is done not in the middle of it. Players should not be going through such mental stress and a social media after every bad game or the fear of failure will settle in the minds of our players.”

Afridi said the sacking so many players and coaches midway through a tour was “shocking.”

“Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision!” Afridi said on X.

“Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included for a Test match in England? What is this thinking and approach? Why has the coach been axed after 5 Test matches? This is the most shocking decision ever by a selection committee which includes so many experienced selectors.”

Ahmed, in his three-month tenure, couldn’t stop Pakistan’s dismal run in red-ball cricket as the team lost five of its six away matches — two in Bangladesh, one in the West Indies and two in England.

Babar Azam’s second stint as test captain also couldn’t turn around the test results after Pakistan sacked Shan Masood in May. Babar drew with the West Indies 1-1 but England has an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan has lost 10 of its last 11 away tests.

A finger injury ruled out Babar from the first test in Leeds and Agha led the side but he was dropped for the second test.

Pakistan has yet to cross the 200-run mark in four innings of the series, losing by an innings and 103 runs in Leeds and by 194 run at Lord’s.

The selectors recalled opening batter Saim Ayub, who has played eight tests, and Abdullah Fazal, who was pulled out of the England tour when he was injured in the West Indies.

The five uncapped players traveling to England included spin allrounder Arafat Minhas, fast bowler Mohammad Imran Jr., wicketkeeper Saad Baig, and fast bowling allrounders Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.

Imam’s torn calf drew criticism in Pakistan media, especially from former chief selector Mohammad Wasim. Imam suffered the low grade injury in the field on the first day at Lord’s and didn’t play in the rest of the match.

However, after Wasim’s criticism, Imam appeared in the outfield on Sunday before the fourth day’s play but was visibly limping as he shadow-batted with his left calf heavily strapped.

Rizwan’s overambitious shot selections against England, including his attempted slog against Ollie Robinson on Sunday that trapped him lbw, led to his axing.

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