Pakistan Sacks Two Coaches and Sends Home Seven Players After England Collapse

THE DECISION

The Pakistan Cricket Board has sent seven players and two coaches home from its Test tour of England, a dramatic mid series shake up made ahead of the third and final Test in Birmingham on September 9.

Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were both removed from their positions. Mike Hesson, previously the team's ODI coach, has been promoted to head coach for the remainder of the series, with Ashley Noffke replacing Gul as bowling coach.

WHY IT HAPPENED

The overhaul follows two lopsided defeats. Pakistan lost the series opener at Leeds by an innings and 103 runs, then fell by 194 runs at Lord's in the second Test. No Pakistani batting innings passed 200 runs across either match, with Saud Shakeel's 97 at Lord's standing as the closest anyone came to three figures.

WHO'S OUT, WHO'S IN

The players sent home include two former captains, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, along with Imam ul Haq, who was already carrying a left calf tear, plus Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad.

Replacing them are Saim Ayub, who already has eight Test caps, Abdullah Fazal, with two Tests to his name, and Arafat Minhas, who steps up from white ball cricket, alongside four uncapped debutants.

THE BACKLASH

Not everyone in Pakistan cricket welcomed the move. Former head coach Mickey Arthur didn't hold back.

"Absolutely ridiculous decision by the PCB. They constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors and there is no stability."

Former captain Javed Miandad raised a different concern, questioning the psychological toll on the players being dropped and the pressure now facing their replacements.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

Hesson's rebuilt side got an immediate answer at Edgbaston. Bowled out for 133 in the first innings, Pakistan fought back in the follow-on behind a rapid 81 from uncapped debutant fast bowler Razaullah, who also took four wickets with the ball, dragging Pakistan to 449 and avoiding the innings defeat that looked certain on day two. England were left needing just 130 to close out the series on the fourth day, but the rebuild had at least produced a genuine performance to build from.