PCB Serves Notice to Selector Over Rizwan and Imam Selection
On September 1, 2026, Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the PCB selection committee by email to the board. He also decided to stand down from his position as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy. Misbah must serve a notice period before his departure becomes official, and as of September 1, 2026, the PCB has not accepted his resignation.
A formal show-cause notice has been issued to a member of Pakistan’s selection committee, with the board requesting a written explanation for the decision to put Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq in the Test team. Chief Operating Officer Sami Ahmed Syed issued the notification, which compels the concerned selector to react in writing within 24 hours of receipt.
The notice comes in the midst of a major makeover of Pakistan’s Test setup, ahead of the third match against England at Edgbaston. As part of the shake-up, seven players were dropped from the squad: Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad.
Coaching changes accompanied the player departures. Sarfaraz Ahmed, the head coach, was replaced by Mike Hesson from New Zealand, while Umar Gul, the bowling coach, was replaced by Australian Ashley Noffke. The restructure impacts both the playing group and the support personnel at the same time, mid-series.
Why did Misbah-ul-Haq step down from the selection committee?
Misbah previously served as Pakistan’s captain in all formats and later as head coach of the national team, hence his exit from cricket administration is remarkable.
It is unclear whether Misbah was served with the show-cause notice or if it was meant at another member of the selection committee.
The PCB has not issued a public statement detailing the reason for the notification or identifying the individual involved.
How does the series look ahead of the Edgbaston Test?
England sealed the Test series at Lord’s with a 194-run win, leaving Pakistan with no realistic hope of winning the rubber. The third and final Test at Edgbaston, scheduled for September 9-13, 2026, will now be played by a significantly revamped Pakistan team overseen by an altogether new coaching combination. The PCB is anticipated to confirm the entire updated team in the coming days.
Pakistan will be hoping to regain some prestige in the final match, but the administrative instability surrounding the roster reshuffle, coaching changes, and Misbah’s dismissal adds significant uncertainty to their preparations for Edgbaston.
