Former Pakistan batter and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has criticised the board’s decision to make sweeping changes to the national Test squad after a disastrous start to the England tour.
Pakistan lost the first Test at Headingley by an innings and suffered another heavy defeat at Lord’s, going down by 194 runs. The team struggled badly with the bat and failed to cross the 200-run mark in any of its four innings across the two Tests.
Following the poor results, the PCB sent seven players back to Pakistan ahead of the third and final Test in Birmingham. Among those asked to leave were senior players Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha. Seven replacements have been brought into the squad.
The changes also extended to the coaching staff. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul were released from their positions as the PCB looked for an immediate turnaround before the final Test.
Ramiz Raja questioned the timing and reasoning behind such a major overhaul in the middle of an overseas series. He described the decision as Pakistan cricket “hitting the panic button” and warned that it could affect the confidence of both the players who were sent home and those remaining with the team.
He also questioned whether the new players could immediately deliver better results, particularly because some of them have limited experience in Test cricket.
Ramiz further said that sending players home midway through a tour was extremely unusual in international cricket. Comparing the situation to football, he said the decision resembled changing a manager in the middle of a season.
The former PCB chief admitted that Pakistan’s situation needs to be addressed but said he was unsure how the latest changes would solve the team’s problems so quickly.
The crisis has added to a turbulent period for Pakistan cricket. The Lord’s Test was also overshadowed by an off-field controversy involving the sons of former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. An interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan during the first day of the Test reportedly led the PCB to consider strong action, including the possibility of withdrawing from the match and tour.
Pakistan eventually continued with the Test. With the final Test approaching, the team now faces pressure to respond on the field and avoid a series whitewash.
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