Pakistan's tour of England has been mired in further disarray with the resignation of selector Misbah-ul-Haq and a significant overhaul of the coaching staff. Misbah, who also held a batting consultancy role at Pakistan's national academy in Lahore, submitted his resignation after being asked to provide the rationale behind specific player selections for the Test series against England.
The development follows a tumultuous 24 hours in which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent seven players home and released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. This decision came after Pakistan fell to a 2-0 deficit in the three-match series against England.
Mike Hesson, the team's white-ball coach, has been appointed interim head coach for the third Test at Edgbaston, with former Australia pace bowler Ashley Noffke providing support.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi expressed bewilderment on social media regarding the recent decisions. "Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision!" he posted, questioning the inclusion of T20 players for a Test match in England and the dismissal of the coach after only five Test matches. He described the move as "the most shocking decision ever by a selection committee which includes so many experienced selectors."
The players dropped from the squad include Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq, who had been under scrutiny, along with Salman Ali Agha, who captained the team in the first Test defeat at Headingley. Also released were Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. The PCB has brought in five uncapped players: Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal.
Following the Lord's defeat, the selection panel was reportedly given 24 hours to justify their player choices, at which point Misbah opted to step down. The team has struggled to reach 200 in any of their four Test innings during the tour.
Adding to the unusual circumstances, supporters noticed an advertisement on LinkedIn seeking a new fielding coach for the Pakistan Men's National Cricket Team. The job description stated the role would be crucial in "developing and enhancing the fielding skills of Pakistan National Team Players."
Misbah-ul-Haq had a notable past with the Pakistan team, serving as both captain and coach. He is remembered for his leadership during the 2015 Test series win against England and a significant victory at Lord's the following year. 
