Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for making major changes during the ongoing Test series in England. Arthur called the board’s decision to drop seven players and remove the red-ball coaching staff “absolutely ridiculous” ahead of the final Test.
Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests, losing by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley before suffering a 194-run defeat at Lord’s. With Pakistan trailing 0-2 in the three-match series, the team, which is at the bottom of the points table in WTC 2025-27, has been under intense scrutiny.
PCB Drop Seven Players Ahead of Edgbaston Test
Following Pakistan’s 194-run defeat at Lord’s, the PCB confirmed that seven players would leave the squad before the final Test in Birmingham. The PCB then named seven replacements, including five uncapped players and Test batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal.
Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar were also sent home despite not playing a match in the series. Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar were the seven players released from the squad.
Saim has played eight Tests for Pakistan, while Abdullah has featured in two Tests. Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas has also been added to the squad after representing Pakistan in three ODIs and four T20Is.
The PCB also made changes to the coaching staff, with Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul leaving their roles. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke will now oversee the team for the remainder of the series.
Mickey Arthur Slams PCB Over Constant Changes
Mickey Arthur slammed the PCB after it sent seven players home following the team’s poor start to the Test series against England. Arthur said that the board’s constant changes to players, coaches and selectors have created instability within Pakistan cricket.
“Absolutely ridiculous decisions by the PCB-this is the reason they are in the mess they are, because they constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors, and there is no stability! Planning, stability and structure =Consistent performance,” Mickey Arthur wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Absolutely ridiculous decisions by the PCB-this is the reason they are in the mess they are because they constantly chop and change players,coaches and selectors and there in no stability!
— Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1) August 31, 2026
Planning,stability and structure =Consistent performance!! https://t.co/LQzN94hf0Z
Mickey Arthur has coached Pakistan in two separate stints. He served as head coach from 2016 to 2019 and later returned as team director from 2023 to 2024. During his first stint, he guided Pakistan to their first ICC Champions Trophy title in 2017, when they defeated India by 180 runs in the final.
Shoaib Malik Questions PCB’s Mid-Tour Accountability
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik also criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to drop several players during the England tour. He added that the players, who have represented Pakistan, deserve respect.
“The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan. Phrases like ‘sent on the first flight back’ are disrespectful,” Malik wrote.
“Accountability should start with those who broke the system, not with players specially those who were on the bench or have played 2-3 Test matches. Plus accountability starts once a tour is done not in the middle of it,” he added.
“Players should not be going through such mental stress and a social media after every bad game or the fear of failure will settle in the minds of our players,” he stated.
