Mohammad Yousuf Criticises PCB Over Mass Sackings
Former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf contended that the scope of the mid-tour deletions went well beyond any simple performance-based explanation.
He pointed out that the replacements arriving in England are not established Pakistani cricket greats, revealing the true purpose for the alterations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has changed its Test squad and coaching staff in the middle of the England tour, sending home seven players, including head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, ahead of the third and final Test at Edgbaston on September 9.
The decision came after Pakistan suffered consecutive massive defeats, losing the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs, giving England an unbeatable 2-0 lead.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad have all been released from the travelling party.
Pakistan brought up five uncapped players, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah, as well as Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, with a combined Test experience of just ten matches. To fill the coaching vacancy, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke were called up to the Test squad.
On the same day that the board announced the makeover, the PCB issued a show-cause notice to the four-member national selection committee, requesting a written explanation within 24 hours of the basis for Rizwan and Imam’s selections, as well as the procedure used to make those judgements.
Why did Mohammad Yousuf criticise the PCB’s decision?
What is the current status of Misbah-ul-Haq’s resignation from the selection committee?
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from the national selection committee in opposition to the PCB’s mid-tour choices. He also chose to leave his post as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. As of the most recent reports, the PCB had not accepted either resignation.
Misbah joined the four-member selection panel in March, alongside Aaqib Javed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Asad Shafiq. His PCB contract also contained a batting consultancy arrangement that required 180 days of service per year.
In the month preceding the England tour, he led the Pakistan Gold squad to victory in the 50-over National Champions Cup in Multan, with Shaheen Shah Afridi captaining the side.
Pakistan’s Test record provides a greater perspective for the situation. The Lord’s defeat was their 15th in the last 20 Tests, and they currently rank last in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings.
Rizwan had been Pakistan’s highest run-scorer and top batting average holder in Tests from the start of 2024 until the West Indies tour, but Imam had only played two Tests during that time despite good domestic performances.
