Babar says was surprised by PCB’s decision to sack Sarfraz, send seven players home

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stunned the national team captain, Babar Azam, by sacking head coach Sarfraz Ahmed and sending seven players back home after their defeat against England at Lord's last week. The PCB's decision followed a 194-run drubbing, which secured a 2-1 series win for England. Sarfraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were replaced by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, respectively.

Seven players, including established players Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha, were axed. Babar Azam was among the seven players who were sent back home. The PCB's decision came as a surprise to Babar and the rest of the team. PCB high-performance director and selector Aaqib Javed later revealed that the decision to sack the coaching staff was a reaction to the team's failure to make certain selection calls ahead of the second Test.

Babar, however, distanced himself from the PCB's decision and acknowledged that the PCB would be in a better position to explain it. Babar and his teammates now have a chance to focus on their performance on the field, with new players like Razaullah and Arafat Minhas potentially making their debuts. For Babar, the final Test, being a dead rubber, is an opportunity to play freely and gain confidence as a team.