Former Pakistani batter and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja criticised the current Mohsin Naqvi-led team for pressing the ‘panic button’ and sending seven players home from England following the series’ first two Test losses.
Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Rizwan have all received marching orders and are among the seven players who will withdraw from the Test series in the middle. Before the third and final Test match against England in Birmingham, seven replacements have been added. The biggest shift, though, has occurred in the backstage, where assistant coach Umar Gul and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed have both been let go.
The series has gotten off to a terrible start for Pakistan. Before England won the first Test by 194 runs at Lord’s, they were defeated by an innings at Headingley. Pakistan has failed to reach 200 runs in any of their four innings during the series.
Ramiz Raja On Mid-Series Sacking
Ramiz questioned if such a significant revamp could produce better performances right away, seeing the move as an indication that the team had pressed the panic button in response to its subpar performance.
In cricket, sending players home halfway through a tour is unprecedented, Ramiz continued.
“I’m trying to convince myself this is all OK, but it is not. It just shows Pakistan cricket has hit a panic button. It’s not good for the game, it’s not good for the confidence of the players who have come in, or for the players who are left, because it makes you a selfish team,” Ramiz said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“What is the guarantee they will get the results? Some of these guys have not played Test cricket. I’ve got no idea why this was done,” he added.
In cricket, sending players home halfway through a tour is unprecedented, Ramiz continued.
“I’m really not happy with the situation. How many times have we seen this happen in world cricket? Never, ever. This is more like football, midway through the season, firing a manager. If you ask me how things can be fixed, I’ve got no idea,” said Ramiz.
The timing of the adjustments is especially noteworthy because, while in the UK, the Pakistani team is supposed to see King Charles at Clarence House.
Following a tumultuous Lord’s Test that was overshadowed by an off-field dispute involving Imran Khan’s sons, the most recent judgments were made. After Suleiman and Kasim Khan were interviewed by Sky Sports during the opening day’s lunch break, the PCB decided to take drastic measures, such as pulling out of the rest of the game and the tour.
In the end, carried on with the Test, but head coach Sarfaraz and captain stated they were not aware of any plans to boycott the game.