Pakistan’s interim Test coach, Mike Hesson, on Friday (September 4), rejected the reports that Salman Ali Agha had declined the invitation to the event at Buckingham Palace, where the team met with the United Kingdom’s monarch, King Charles III.
The event took place after the second Test, when Agha, along with six other players, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, were released from the squad after Pakistan’s consecutive losses in the first two Tests. While two — Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan — returned home immediately, Agha was asked to stay back but wasn’t seen at the event.
The four other players also released — Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad — were present at the event, which led to speculation
about Agha. However, Hesson called it ‘unacceptable journalism’.
“Look, I know there’s been a void in the news, but people are just making up stories. Salman Ali Agha, as I’ve said, the three players were released from the squad before I arrived, well before Buckingham Palace,” Hesson said. “They were sent a note at that time that these three players would not be attending Buckingham Palace. So, someone’s just made something up,” he added.
“In terms of the other players, all of the rest of the players that were in the squad were already on the list. I was already on the list as the white-ball head coach, so there have been no changes to it,” he said. “It was all very straightforward. Someone’s just got two and two together and come up with nine. For me, that’s unacceptable journalism,” Hesson concluded.
Hesson also praised Agha as ‘a fine player’ and said he was working towards a comeback through domestic cricket.
Hesson distances himself from squad changes
Hesson, meanwhile, also distanced himself from the decision to drop Rizwan, Agha and Imam, after he took over from Sarfaraz as an emergency replacement. He said the three senior players had already been released before he was approached by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“When they told me if I could manage the side for the final Test, these three players were already released from the squad and on their way home. So, I really don’t know what happened there,” Hesson said.
The New Zealander said his involvement was limited to ‘the release of the rest of the players and the inclusion of some new players.’
“I decided to make some changes in the squad to get balance into the squad,” Hesson said, adding that his focus was on a bowling attack ‘which has variety’ and included ‘a couple of bowling all-rounders.’
