Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Misbah Offers Resignation Amid Pakistan’s Mid-Series Test Overhaul
Pakistan changed many players and coaches during its cricket tour of England.
The changes came after Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs.
England then led the three-match series 2-0 and could not lose the series.
Seven Pakistan players were sent home before the final Test.
Five players who had not played a Test were added, along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal.
Two coaches were removed and replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.
Misbah-ul-Haq then offered to leave the selection committee and also stepped down as a batting consultant.
Reports disagreed about whether the cricket board had officially accepted his resignation.
Misbah-ul-Haq reportedly offered to resign from Pakistan’s national selection committee after the PCB overhauled the Test squad and coaching staff.
The changes followed Pakistan’s 194-run defeat by England at Lord’s, which gave England an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Seven players were released before the third Test at Edgbaston, while five uncapped players, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal were added.
Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were removed as head coach and bowling coach, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke joining the Test coaching staff.
Reports differ on whether Misbah had formally resigned or only offered to resign; the PCB had reportedly not accepted his resignation.
- Who
- Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan Cricket Board, Pakistan’s men’s cricket team and England are involved.
- What
- Misbah reportedly offered to resign after the PCB made major changes to Pakistan’s Test squad and coaching staff.
- When
- The resignation offer was reported on September 1, after the changes and before the third Test scheduled for September 9.
- Where
- The changes followed Pakistan’s defeat at Lord’s and affected the squad for the Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
- Why
- Reports linked the move to the PCB’s squad and coaching overhaul; one report said Misbah objected to decisions being made without consulting him and to a notice seeking explanations for player selections.
Reports Describing a Resignation
Reports Describing an Offer Pending Approval
Misbah’s status
Reports Describing a Resignation
Several headlines and one report described Misbah as having resigned from the selection committee after the squad overhaul.
Reports Describing an Offer Pending Approval
Cricinfo-based reports said he offered to resign and that the PCB had not yet accepted the resignation.
Reason for the move
Reports Describing a Resignation
Reports said Misbah was unhappy that squad and coaching decisions were made without consulting or informing him, and that the PCB sought explanations for selections.
Reports Describing an Offer Pending Approval
The board’s reported notice and overhaul followed Pakistan’s poor results, including consecutive defeats that gave England a 2-0 series lead.
Assessment of the overhaul
Reports Describing a Resignation
Former players Shahid Afridi, Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal criticized the timing, player selections and decision to make changes with one Test remaining.
Reports Describing an Offer Pending Approval
The PCB proceeded with the changes after Pakistan’s losses and added seven players, including five uncapped cricketers, for the final Test.
- Resignation status
- Cricinfo-based reports said Misbah offered to resign and that the PCB had not yet accepted it, while other headlines described him as having resigned.
- Series position
- England led the three-Test series 2-0 after Pakistan’s 194-run defeat at Lord’s.
- Players released
- Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were released.
- Players added
- Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah were added, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal.
- Coaching changes
- Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were removed, while Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke joined the Test coaching staff.
- Third Test
- The final Test was scheduled to begin at Edgbaston on September 9.
- Selection notice
- Reports said the PCB asked the selection committee to explain the basis for selecting Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for the West Indies and England tours.
Sources
Pakistan’s mid-series overhaul claims its first selector: Misbah-ul-Haq resigns
Amid Turmoil, New Crisis Hits Pakistan Cricket, Misbah-ul-Haq Resigns From Selection Committee Days before 3rd ENG vs PAK Test
Misbah Ul Haq Resigns After Pakistan Selects Players Without Consulting Selector: Report
Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector amid PCB’s post-Lord’s overhaul
Misbah-ul-Haq Resigns From Pakistan Selection Committee After PCB's Test Squad Shake-Up