Mohsin Naqvi Hits Back at Critics Over Squad Overhaul
On September 2, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi issued a statement responding to criticism of the mid-series overhaul. He recognised that decisions made in England were necessary and added that he was looking into problems other than performance, but that it was not the appropriate time to discuss such issues outside of sport.
Pakistan’s Test team experienced dramatic changes on September 2, 2026, following back-to-back defeats during the country’s ongoing England tour.
The visitors had lost the first Test by an innings and 103 runs before losing the second Test by 194 runs at Lord’s, leaving them trailing 2-0 in the three-match series.
Seven players were dropped from the team, while seven replacements were added ahead of the third Test against Birmingham on September 9.
Naqvi accepted that Pakistan was at the bottom of the World Test Championship points table, having won only two of eight matches.
However, he insisted that the team’s white-ball performance has improved during his stint as PCB chief.
Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq, middle-order batsman Salman Ali Agha, batsman Ali Usman, all-rounder Aamir Jamal, and quick bowlers Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were among those let go. Ali Usman had taken five wickets in the Leeds Test, but Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad had not played any matches on the tour.
Batter Saim Ayub and opener Abdullah Fazal were among the substitutes, having played eight and two Tests for Pakistan, respectively. The replacements included five uncapped players: Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah.
The coaching staff also saw changes, with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul being let go. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, who previously served on the white-ball coaching panel, were now in charge of the Test team.
Cricket analysts and former Pakistan cricketers, notably Shahid Afridi and Ramiz Raja, slammed the roster revamp. Following the changes, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq requested his resignation from the national selection committee, which the PCB had yet to accept as of September 2. The third Test in Birmingham was scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026.
