Pakistan's cricket team has been plunged into further disarray during their tour of England, with selector Misbah-ul-Haq resigning from his post. The development follows a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for selectors to explain their player choices for the Test series against England.
Misbah, who also stepped down from his batting consultancy role at Pakistan's national academy in Lahore, resigned after he and fellow selectors were asked to provide their rationale for specific player selections. This decision comes just a day after the PCB sent seven players home and released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, following the team's 2-0 deficit in the three-match series.
Mike Hesson, currently the white-ball coach, has been appointed interim head coach for the third Test at Edgbaston, with former Australian pace bowler Ashley Noffke providing support. The PCB's actions have drawn criticism, with former player Shahid Afridi questioning the logic behind the decisions on social media, particularly the inclusion of T20 players for a Test match in England and the timing of the coach's dismissal.
The players dropped include Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq, who were reportedly under scrutiny, along with Salman Ali Agha, the captain for the first Test defeat at Headingley. Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad were also dispensed with. In their place, five uncapped players—Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah—along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, have been drafted into the squad.
Misbah-ul-Haq's departure follows a series of poor performances, with the team failing to reach 200 in any of their four Test innings. The tour has been marked by off-field controversies, including denials of reports that players planned a dressing-room protest during the Lord's Test. Individual player performances have also been a point of concern, with Imam-ul-Haq suffering a calf injury and Mohammad Rizwan facing criticism for his batting approach.
Adding to the team's upheaval, an advertisement for a new fielding coach, posted on LinkedIn by the PCB, has also come to light. The job description emphasizes the role's importance in developing and enhancing the fielding skills of the national team players. Misbah-ul-Haq was previously known for his leadership, having overseen a Test series win against England in 2015 and a victory at Lord's in 2016.