Lahore: Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned as chief selector after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) effected wholesale changes to the Test squad and team management midway through the tour of England.
Misbah also offered to step down as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
Pakistan plunged to a two-day innings defeat at Lord’s following a 194-run drubbing in the first Test against England.
As a corrective measure, the PCB removed seven players, including three seniors, from the Test squad and also released Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul as head coach and bowling coach, respectively, ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston from September 9.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad were sent home. Five uncapped players — Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah — will join the Test squad along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal.
Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, the head coach and bowling coach of the white-ball set-up, have joined the Test coaching staff.
‘Disrespectful, nonsensical’
PCB’s decision was widely criticised.
Former skipper Shoaib Malik called the players’ treatment disrespectful.
“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.”
Another former star Shahid Afridi didn’t mince words either.
“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?”
Pakistan earlier this year lost 0-2 to Bangladesh. The last time Pakistan won a Test series was two years ago, against England at home.