Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Afridi Criticizes PCB Shake-Up After Pakistan’s England Test Defeats
Pakistan was playing a three-match Test cricket series against England.
England won the first two games by very large margins.
Before the last game, Pakistan sent seven players home.
The team replaced them with mostly young or uncapped players.
Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were among those sent back.
Pakistan also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.
Former captain Shahid Afridi said the changes were badly timed and did not make sense.
He especially questioned choosing players with T20 experience for a Test in England.
The third Test was scheduled to begin on September 9 in Birmingham.
Shahid Afridi criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board for changing the Test setup midway through the England series.
Pakistan sent seven players home before the third Test, including Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.
Mostly young and uncapped players replaced them for the match at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs.
Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed before the final Test.
- Who
- The Pakistan Cricket Board, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s players and coaches, and England’s cricket team.
- What
- Pakistan replaced seven Test players and removed two coaches before the third Test against England.
- When
- The changes were made after Pakistan lost the first two Tests and before the third Test scheduled for September 9.
- Where
- The third Test was scheduled at Edgbaston Cricket Stadium in Birmingham, England.
- Why
- The changes followed Pakistan’s heavy defeats in the first two Tests; Afridi questioned their timing, scale and the selection of T20 players for a Test match.
Afridi’s criticism
PCB’s reported shake-up
Timing and scale
Afridi’s criticism
Afridi said making so many changes after the second defeat, with only one Test remaining, lacked logic and was the most shocking decision by a selection committee.
PCB’s reported shake-up
The PCB made the changes after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests and entered the final match seeking to avoid a 3-0 loss.
Player selection
Afridi’s criticism
Afridi said the replacements made no sense and questioned selecting players with T20 experience for a Test match in England.
PCB’s reported shake-up
The PCB selected mostly young and uncapped players to replace the seven players sent home for the third Test.
Coaching changes
Afridi’s criticism
Afridi questioned why the coach was removed after only five Test matches.
PCB’s reported shake-up
The PCB removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul before the third Test.
- Series
- Three-match Test series between Pakistan and England
- Series position
- England led 2-0 and had secured the series
- First Test result
- Pakistan lost by an innings and 103 runs
- Second Test result
- Pakistan lost by 194 runs at Lord’s
- Players sent home
- Seven
- Replacement group
- Mostly young and uncapped players
- Third Test
- Scheduled for September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham
- Coaching changes
- Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were removed
