Players thought it was fake, left 'shocked': Inside Pakistan cricket's day of chaos
The PCB recalled seven players and replaced two coaches after Pakistan lost the series 2-0 against England.
Following Pakistan's heavy defeats in the first two Tests against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping changes to the team, leaving players shocked and confused. Several players were informed of their exclusion through social media posts rather than direct communication from team management, which left the squad feeling dejected.
Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, respectively, for the third and final Test. Most of the players who were dropped had played in the second Test at Lord's, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad. The decision to overhaul the team and drop these players without prior notification has raised questions about their future in international cricket, with doubts cast on their character, fitness, and decision-making.
The PCB's actions have been met with disappointment and frustration from players who felt blindsided by the sudden changes.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
