Pakistan’s disastrous England tour has taken another dramatic turn. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released seven players from the Test squad following the team’s heavy defeat at Lord’s.
The decision comes with Pakistan trailing 0-2 in the three-match Test series. England will now look to complete a series whitewash in the third and final Test at Edgbaston.
7 Pakistan players released from Test squad
Pakistan have made major changes to their squad ahead of the final Test. The seven players released are Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.
They have been replaced by Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran (Imran Randhawa) and Razaullah.
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal and Arafat Minhas have previously represented Pakistan. The other four players are yet to make their international debuts. The changes show the PCB’s decision to give fresh faces an opportunity after a disappointing run in Test cricket.
Major changes to Pakistan’s coaching staff
The PCB has also made changes to the Test coaching setup. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson will now take charge of the Test team alongside Ashley Noffke.
They will replace Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, who have been released from their respective coaching roles with immediate effect. The PCB has therefore made changes both on the field and in the dressing room before the final Test.
Has a team made such drastic changes during a tour before?
Major squad changes in the middle of a tour are rare in Test cricket. However, there have been a few notable examples in the past.
Pakistan’s 2010 England tour
Pakistan made major changes during their England tour in 2010 after the spot-fixing scandal involving Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir.
The three players were removed from the team after the Test series and before Pakistan’s white-ball matches against England. The incident remains one of the biggest controversies in Pakistan cricket history.
Australia’s Homeworkgate in 2013
Australia also made headlines during their 2013 Test tour of India. After losing the first two Tests, then coach Mickey Arthur reportedly asked the players to submit written assignments outlining areas where they could improve individually and as a team.
Vice-captain Shane Watson, along with Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja, failed to submit the assignments. The four players were subsequently suspended for the third Test. Australia eventually lost the series 4-0.
Ravi Shastri takes charge during India’s 2014 England tour
India also made a coaching change during their England tour in 2014. Following a disappointing 3-1 Test series defeat, head coach Duncan Fletcher was replaced by Ravi Shastri, who took charge as team director before India’s white-ball matches. Shastri was joined by Bharat Arun and Sanjay Bangar in the new coaching setup.