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Hesson Denies Salman Agha Snubbed King Charles Meeting
Some reports said Salman Ali Agha skipped a meeting with King Charles III because Pakistan removed him from its Test team.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said that story was made up.
He explained that Agha and two other players had already been released before the event.
They were told in advance that they would not attend.
Hesson said the other players were already invited.
He also said there were no sudden changes to the guest list.
The reports appeared during a difficult tour for Pakistan.
Pakistan had already lost the first two Tests against England.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson denied reports that Salman Ali Agha refused to meet King Charles III.
Hesson said Agha, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were released before the royal event and told they would not attend.
He said the remaining squad members were already on the guest list and that no last-minute changes occurred.
The reports followed Pakistan's decision to release seven players and remove coaches after two heavy Test defeats.
Pakistan trail England 2-0, with the third Test scheduled to begin in Birmingham on September 9.
- Who
- Pakistan coach Mike Hesson, Salman Ali Agha and other Pakistan players; King Charles III was the reported host.
- What
- Hesson denied that Agha deliberately refused to attend a royal meeting.
- Where
- The articles variously identify the venue as Buckingham Palace and Clarence House; the third Test is in Birmingham.
- When
- The event took place on September 2; the third Test begins on September 9.
- Why
- The speculation followed Agha's removal, along with six other players, from Pakistan's Test squad after two losses to England.
Reported Snub
Coach's Rebuttal
Why Agha was absent
Reported Snub
Reports suggested Salman Ali Agha deliberately skipped the meeting as a protest against being removed from the Test squad.
Coach's Rebuttal
Mike Hesson said Agha had already been released and was told in advance that he would not attend.
Guest-list changes
Reported Snub
Agha's absence after the squad shake-up was presented as evidence of a possible last-minute exclusion or refusal.
Coach's Rebuttal
Hesson said there were no last-minute changes and that the other squad members were already on the guest list.
Reliability of the reports
Reported Snub
The reports connected Agha's absence with Pakistan's controversial decision to send players home.
Coach's Rebuttal
Hesson called the reports made up and said journalists had drawn an incorrect conclusion from the circumstances.
Key facts
- Pakistan's series position
- Pakistan trail England 2-0 in a three-match Test series.
- Players released
- The seven released players were Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.
- Coaching changes
- Pakistan removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul; Mike Hesson took charge for the third Test.
- Hesson's explanation
- Hesson said Agha, Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were released before he arrived and were informed they would not attend the event.
- Guest list
- Hesson said the remaining squad members were already listed and that there were no last-minute changes.
- Event date
- The royal engagement was reported to have taken place on September 2.
- Venue discrepancy
- One article refers to Clarence House, while another refers to Buckingham Palace.
Quotes
Mike Hesson
Pakistan's white-ball head coach
“Look, I know there’s been a void in the news, but people are just making up stories. Salman Ali Agha, as I’ve said, the three players were released from the squad before I arrived, well before Buckingham Palace”
livemint.com
“In terms of the other players, all of the rest of the players that were in the squad were already on the list. I was already on the list as the white-ball head coach, so there have been no changes to it.”
livemint.com
Sources
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