Former Australia batter Usman Khawaja has taken another swipe at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this time responding to high-performance director Aaqib Javed’s blunt assessment of the team’s situation during the ongoing England series.
Aaqib had admitted that Pakistan’s performances had become a major concern, saying “the world is laughing at us” after the side failed to compete in the opening two Tests.
Khawaja, reacting to an Instagram post carrying Aaqib’s comments, offered a pointed response: “The world is laughing harder now.”
The remark came after the PCB made sweeping changes to Pakistan’s Test set-up following back-to-back defeats against England. With the series already decided, Pakistan have overhauled their squad and coaching staff
ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston, beginning September 9.
Pakistan’s second defeat was particularly damaging, with England winning by 194 runs at Lord’s to secure an unassailable 2-0 series lead. The opening Test had ended even more emphatically, with Pakistan suffering an innings defeat.
In response, the PCB released seven players from the touring squad including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.
Five uncapped players have subsequently been added, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have only 10 Tests between them.
The newcomers include Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah. The board has also turned to members of its white-ball coaching structure, bringing in Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke as head coach and bowling coach respectively.
Aaqib defended the drastic intervention while openly questioning the decisions made during the first two Tests.
“Two Test matches have come and gone, and the team has not competed in any way,” he said, explaining that the management had options available but failed to make the necessary changes.
He specifically pointed to the pace attack, arguing that Pakistan needed a bowler capable of bringing greater variety and speed into the line-up and also questioned the decision to persist with Rizwan behind the stumps.
“The world is laughing at us because we can’t even compete,” Aaqib had said.
The PCB has also sought explanations from its selectors over the inclusion of Rizwan and Imam.
