The Pakistan national cricket team’s ongoing England tour has come under scrutiny from several former England cricketers. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Phil Tufnell, David Lloyd, Michael Vaughan, and Alastair Cook reacted to Pakistan’s mid-series squad overhaul and their recent royal meeting.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made major changes after the team suffered heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord’s. They released seven players from the squad and also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, while an internal investigation into player discipline was launched.
Phil Tufnell Criticizes Pakistan’s Mid-Series Player Purge
Phil Tufnell was shocked by Pakistan’s decision to send seven players home before the third Test. He stated that teams usually send players home only after serious disciplinary breaches rather than poor performances.
“But to send them home — to actually send them home — I think it’s terrible. It’s a disgrace for the players. I mean, they’ve now got to get on a plane and go back to the country. I’ve had all sorts.”
“I’ve been sent to the moon in a rocket by The Sun, and, you know, ‘big ears’ and ‘bunny teeth’ and everything. We always used to get that. But to actually say, two-thirds of the way through a tour, ‘Right, sorry lads, you’ve got to bugger off’ — I think that’s something else.”
Pakistan suffered an innings-and-103-run defeat at Headingley before losing the Lord’s Test by 194 runs. The PCB then released seven players from the squad, along with Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul.
Michael Vaughan Mocks Pakistan’s Coaching Instability
Michael Vaughan also questioned Pakistan’s decision to release players during the series. He pointed out that players are usually sent home for serious disciplinary issues, but suggested that Pakistan had taken the unusual step after poor performances.
“The thing is, usually you see one or two leave a tour because they’ve done something wrong in a bar or something. These have been sent home for just plain average cricket,” Michael Vaughan said.
“Since Saqlain Mushtaq lost his job as head coach in 2023, Pakistan have made 12 changes to the men’s Test-match head coach,” Michael Vaughan said.
Alastair Cook joked about the number of coaching changes and how quickly Pakistan’s situation had deteriorated after the podcast discussed the team’s struggles.
“That’s more than Watford managers,” Alastair Cook shot back. “Did I say on this show, ‘There hasn’t been any chaos on this tour. They’ve just been bad’? And 24 hours later, they’ve sent seven home.”
David Lloyd was even more critical when the discussion turned to Aaqib Javed and the wider Pakistan cricket hierarchy. “But this — I mean, he’s just a complete embarrassment to the country.”
Panel Jokes About Pakistan Players Meeting King Charles
The panel then turned its attention to another unusual moment from the Pakistan team’s meeting with King Charles at Clarence House. The royal engagement created an awkward contrast between the formal event and the turmoil surrounding the team.
The Stick to Cricket panel imagined how the King might have reacted if he knew that some of the players standing in front of him were about to be sent home.
“They got an audience with King Charles, didn’t they? They’re all lined up, and you’re being sent home. But just before you go, can you just go and meet the King? I bet old Charlie’s walked down there and said, ‘Are you the one who’s going home? What have you done wrong?’ This is like that programme, Have I Got News for You.”
Pakistan will now face England in the third and final Test at Edgbaston from Wednesday, September 9, with the visitors looking to avoid a 3-0 series defeat after England took an unassailable 2-0 lead.
