The Pakistan cricket team’s disastrous tour of England has taken another controversial turn, with former captains Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik publicly criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their handling of the squad and coaching staff. The backlash comes after the PCB made sweeping changes following a heavy defeat at Lord’s, which sealed the series for England.
PCB's Drastic Overhaul After Lord's Defeat
Pakistan’s 194-run loss at Lord’s gave England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, turning the final Test at Edgbaston into a dead rubber. In response, the PCB released seven players from the squad, including five who had featured in the series: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad. Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar were also sent home despite not playing in any of the matches.
The coaching staff was not spared either. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were relieved of their duties, with white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke stepping in as replacements.
Shahid Afridi Questions Logic Behind Squad Selection
Shahid Afridi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his confusion over the decision-making process, particularly the inclusion of players known for their T20 exploits in a Test match in England.
“Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision! Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included for a Test match in England? What is this thinking and approach?” Afridi wrote.
He was equally critical of the decision to sack Sarfaraz Ahmed as head coach after just five Test matches, calling it one of the most shocking decisions he had ever seen from a selection panel. “Why has the coach been axed after 5 Test matches? This is the most shocking decision ever by a selection committee which includes so many experienced selectors,” he added.
Sarfaraz Ahmed's Brief Tenure
Sarfaraz was appointed as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach on April 18, just before a two-match Test tour of Bangladesh. His first assignment ended in a 2-0 whitewash. Pakistan then drew a two-match series in the West Indies 1-1 before arriving in England, where they now trail 2-0 with only the Edgbaston Test remaining.
Shoaib Malik Calls PCB's Decision 'Ridiculous'
Shoaib Malik also voiced his displeasure, labeling the PCB’s decision to send seven players home in the middle of a tour as “ridiculous” and disrespectful. On X, Malik wrote, “The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan. Phrases like ‘sent on the first flight back’ are disrespectful. Accountability should start with those who broke the system, not with players, especially those who were on the bench or have played 2-3 test matches. Plus accountability starts once a tour is done, not in the middle of it.”
He further added, “Players should not be going through such mental stress and social media after every bad game or the fear of failure will settle in the minds of our players.”
Afridi's Criticism Highlights Deeper Issues
Afridi’s frustration reflects a broader concern about the logic behind squad-building. Selecting T20 specialists for a Test match, especially in English conditions that demand patience and technical solidity, suggests a decision driven by panic rather than a coherent red-ball strategy. It is difficult to see how players developed for short-format explosiveness can suddenly adapt to the discipline of five-day cricket overnight.
The coaching decision is arguably even harder to defend. Five Test matches, spanning three different series and vastly different conditions, are not nearly enough time to fairly judge whether a head coach’s methods are working. Sacking Sarfaraz this quickly sends a troubling signal to future candidates about job security within Pakistan’s setup and does little to build long-term coherence in the team’s approach to Test cricket.
Afridi’s blunt criticism might ruffle feathers within the board, but it echoes what plenty of former players and analysts have already flagged: Pakistan’s Test cricket problems run far deeper than personnel. They are rooted in an approach that keeps mistaking constant change for genuine progress. Until that mindset shifts, results like this dead-rubber chaos will likely keep repeating.
