In a statement released on September 2, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi responded to criticism on the mid-series overhaul. Although he said it was not the appropriate moment to talk about concerns outside of cricket, he admitted that changes made in England were important and said he was looking into factors other than performance.
On September 2, 2026, Pakistan’s Test team experienced major changes in response to consecutive losses during the current tour of England. The visitors were 2-0 behind in the three-match series after losing the first Test by innings and 103 runs and then losing the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs. Before the third Test, which is set to take place in Birmingham on September 9, seven players were cut from the team and seven replacements were added.
After two victories in eight games, Naqvi admitted that Pakistan was at the bottom of the World Test Championship points standings.
But he insisted that during his time as PCB chief, the team’s white-ball performance had improved.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq, middle-order batsman Salman Ali Agha, batter Ali Usman, all-rounder Aamir Jamal, and fast bowlers Khurram Shahzad and Muhammad Awais Zafar were among the players discharged. Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad had not played in any of the tour’s games, but Ali Usman had claimed five wickets in the Leeds Test.
Batsman Saim Ayub and opener Abdullah Fazal, who had each played eight and two Test matches for Pakistan, were the replacements. Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jr., Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah were the five uncapped players who were substituted. Sarfaraz Ahmed, the head coach, and Umar Gul, the bowling coach, were let go as part of the coaching staff changes. Ashley Noffke and Mike Hesson, who had been on the white-ball coaching panel, were now in charge of the Test side.
Cricket commentators and former Pakistani players, such as Shahid Afridi and Ramiz Raja, harshly criticised the selection change. After the revisions, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq submitted his resignation from the national selection committee, but as of September 2, the PCB had not yet accepted it. On September 9, 2026, the third Test in Birmingham was scheduled to begin.
