Archive · 5 Sep 2026
PCB Plans Wider Clean-Up After Pakistan’s Lord’s Test Loss
Pakistan’s cricket board is planning major changes after the team lost the Lord’s Test against England.
The board may remove Aaqib Javed, who leads the selection committee.
This is part of a larger clean-up of the team and its management.
Seven players were sent home during the England series.
Two coaches were also released.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha were among the players sent back.
A source said the players were not removed only because of their batting form.
Misbah-ul-Haq also resigned from the selection committee, but the board questioned the committee about earlier selections.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is expected to remove chief selector Aaqib Javed after Pakistan’s Lord’s Test defeat by England.
The reported move follows Pakistan’s decision to send home seven players and release two coaches during the England series.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha were among those removed from the Test squad.
A source said Javed may be redirected toward his role as Director Development at Lahore High-Performance Centre.
Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the selection committee, while the PCB issued the committee a show-cause notice over earlier squad selections.
- Who
- Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, chief selector Aaqib Javed, the selection committee, and several Pakistan players and coaches.
- What
- The PCB is expected to remove Javed and is carrying out wider changes after Pakistan’s Lord’s Test loss to England.
- When
- The changes followed the Lord’s Test defeat during Pakistan’s ongoing Test series in England.
- Where
- The developments concern Pakistan’s cricket team during its series in England, with a possible reassignment for Javed at the Lahore High-Performance Centre.
- Why
- The PCB is conducting a reported clean-up after Pakistan’s poor results and has questioned selection decisions involving players chosen for away series.
PCB Clean-Up Rationale
Criticism Of Selection Decisions
Reason for squad removals
PCB Clean-Up Rationale
A source said the removals were part of a wider clean-up, and that form alone was not the main reason Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were sent home.
Criticism Of Selection Decisions
Several experts and former players were publicly holding Aaqib Javed responsible for Pakistan cricket’s decline, while Rizwan’s poor returns and concerns surrounding Imam-ul-Haq were also cited.
Who influenced the changes
PCB Clean-Up Rationale
The source said interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson recommended sending back the other players so he could try players he had worked with in the white-ball camp.
Criticism Of Selection Decisions
The PCB’s show-cause notice questioned the selection committee over choosing Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for the West Indies and England away series.
- PCB chief
- Mohsin Naqvi
- Expected change
- Aaqib Javed is expected to be removed as chief selector.
- Reported reassignment
- Javed may be told to focus on his Director Development role at Lahore High-Performance Centre.
- Players sent home
- Seven first-team players were sent back during the England Tests, including Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.
- Coaching changes
- Two coaches were released after Pakistan conceded the ongoing Test series in the United Kingdom.
- Selection committee development
- Misbah-ul-Haq resigned, while the PCB issued the committee a show-cause notice over the selection of Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for away series.