{
  "id": 4787926,
  "title": "'T20 players included for Tests': Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik slam Pakistan selectors over squad selection amid chaos in England tour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/t20-players-included-for-tests-shahid-afridi-shoaib-malik-slam",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-01T04:38:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/t20-players-included-tests-shahid-043809605.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik have criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for selecting T20 specialists for the Test squad during Pakistan's England tour. Afridi questioned the decision to include T20 players in a Test match in England, while Shoaib Malik called the PCB's decision \"ridiculous.\" Seven players were released from the squad, with only two experienced additions, and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were sacked after just five Test matches in charge.",
  "summary": "Shahid Afridi slammed Pakistan selectors over bizarre squad changes and the sacking of coach Sarfaraz midway through the England tour.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Pakistan drop seven players and release head coach",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/pakistan-drop-seven-players-and-release-head-coach",
        "published": "2026-08-31T16:20:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ESPNcricinfo",
        "title": "Pakistan send seven players home and bring in Hesson to coach Test side",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/pakistan-send-seven-players-home-and-bring-in-hesson-to-coach-test",
        "published": "2026-08-31T16:25:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Major shake-up in Pakistan cricket: Seven players, coaches Sarfaraz, Gul released",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/major-shake-up-in-pakistan-cricket-seven-players-coaches-sarfaraz-gul",
        "published": "2026-08-31T17:06:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Which Pakistan players were axed from squad? PCB opts for major reshuffle during series against England",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/which-pakistan-players-were-axed-from-squad-pcb-opts-for-major",
        "published": "2026-09-01T05:36:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Pakistan ditch coaches, send seven players home after England defeats",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/pakistan-ditch-coaches-send-seven-players-home-after-england-defeats",
        "published": "2026-09-01T05:52:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}