Misbah-ul-Haq sent the board an email on September 1, 2026, announcing his resignation from the PCB selection committee. He also made the decision to leave his position at the National Cricket Academy as a batting consultant.
A member of Pakistan’s selection committee has received a formal show-cause notice, and the board is requesting a written justification for the inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq and Muhammad Rizwan in the Test team. The notification was sent by Chief Operating Officer Sami Ahmed Syed, and the concerned selector must reply in writing within 24 hours of receiving it.
The announcement coincides with a comprehensive reorganisation of Pakistan’s Test team in preparation for the third game against England at Edgbaston. Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad were the seven players cut from the team as part of the shuffle.
The player removals were accompanied by changes in coaching. Australian Ashley Noffke replaced bowling coach Umar Gul, while Mike Hesson of New Zealand took over as head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed. Midway through the series, the restructure simultaneously impacts the support personnel and the playing group.
Misbah-ul-Haq left the selection committee for what reason?
Prior to his official departure, Misbah must serve a notice period, and as of September 1, 2026, the PCB had not accepted his resignation.
Misbah’s exit from cricket administration is noteworthy because he was Pakistan’s captain in all formats before becoming the national team’s head coach.
It has not been formally established whether the show-cause notice was sent to Misbah or to another member of the screening committee. The PCB has not issued a public statement that identifies the person in question or explains the reasoning behind the notice.
In what ways does the series outperform the Edgbaston Test?
With a 194-run victory at Lord’s, England concluded the Test series, giving Pakistan no realistic chance to win the rubber. A drastically changed Pakistan team under a completely new coaching combination will now compete in the third and final Test at Edgbaston from September 9–13, 2026. In the upcoming days, the PCB is anticipated to confirm the entire updated team.
Although Misbah’s dismissal, the coaching changes, and the administrative turmoil surrounding the squad revamp add significant uncertainty to their preparations for Edgbaston, Pakistan will be hoping to salvage some pride in the last game.
