These are tough times for Pakistan cricket.
Amid their struggles on the England tour and the stunning fallout of the series defeat, their captain Babar Azam has now reportedly fallen ill ahead of the third and final Test of the three-match series.
Citing team manager Naveed Akram Cheema, Geo News reported that Babar is down with a fever. However, Cheema has allayed fears over the batter’s availability, expecting him to get fit in time for the contest slated to get underway from September 9 in Birmingham.
Pakistan have already lost the series, conceding an unassailable 2-0 lead to England. More than the defeats, their listless show with the bat has hit the headlines. In the series opener, England cruised to an innings win before securing another
crushing 194-run win in Lord’s to clinch the series.
Coaches Sacked, Players Sent Home
Irked by the poor performances, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released as many as seven players from their Test squad for the series including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad.
They called up five uncapped players – Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah – to join the squad along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal.
Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been let go of, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke joining the Test coaching staff.
Former captain Shahid Afridi was among the prominent voices raising their concerns over the drastic measure.
“Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision!”, Afridi posted on X. “Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included 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.”
