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Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to make sweeping changes to the squad and coaching staff ahead of the third Test against England.
Shahid Afridi questioned the timing and logic behind the move, calling it the “most shocking decision” by a selection committee packed with experienced members.
Pakistan have made the drastic changes after suffering a 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s, a result that handed England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Full details of Pakistan's mass sacking
Pakistan have made wholesale changes to their squad ahead of the third and final Test against England, with seven players released and five uncapped players added to the group. The changes also extend to the coaching staff, with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul removed from their respective roles after only two Tests in the series.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad are the seven players who have been released from the squad.
Pakistan have brought in Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah, all of whom are yet to make their Test debuts. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have also been included, despite having only 10 international matches of experience between them.
The coaching structure has also been changed. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, who are currently associated with Pakistan's white-ball set-up as head coach and bowling coach respectively, have joined the Test coaching staff.
The scale of the changes is particularly striking because Pakistan have made them midway through a Test series that has already been decided.
Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision - Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi was particularly critical of the decision to make such significant changes after just two Tests. The former all-rounder also questioned the inclusion of players primarily associated with T20 cricket for a Test match in England and wondered why the coaching staff had been changed so quickly.
“Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision!
“The replacements make no sense - T20 players in for a Test match in England? What is this thinking and approach? Why has the coach been axed after five Test matches?
“This is the most shocking decision ever by a selection committee which includes so many experienced selectors,” Shahid Afridi wrote on X.
It's a shame that after 70 years, Pakistan has gone through such a disaster - Danish Kaneria
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has also questioned the direction of the country's cricketing system following the heavy series defeat in England. He felt the team's performances lacked the fight expected from an international side and criticised the decision-making around selection and leadership.
“It's a shame that after 70 years, Pakistan has gone through such a disaster. There is no logic, selection committee, or play. They are just good for nothing. You see, such a bad performance. If a person loses, he tries and fights before losing. The fight has to be visible. Here, there's no fight. No one knows anything.
“The team selection committee is responsible, but they are not responding. First you made Babar the captain, then removed him. But there should be a reason. ‘Let's make Babar the captain. Let it run for 1-3 years.' But then you removed him from there, then made him captain again. Now you are talking about removing him again. Your cricket won't improve like this,” Kaneria told IANS in an exclusive interaction.
Also Read: Misbah-ul-Haq quits Pakistan selection committee after seven-player call
