Chaos is absolutely erupting in Pakistan cricket right now, with former head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed getting shown the door after just five Test matches in charge. This isn’t just a regular coaching change, folks, it’s a full-blown meltdown that has legends like Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik tearing into the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision-making. Malik even slammed the move as “ridiculous.”
Seven Players Gone, Coaches Out: What Is Going On?
The shake-up comes after Pakistan took a brutal 194-run defeat at Lord’s, which sealed an unassailable 2-0 series lead for England. That loss turned the final Test at Edgbaston into a dead rubber, but it apparently ignited a firestorm within the PCB. They didn’t just tweak things; they blew it all up. Seven players got released from the squad. We’re talking Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad, all of whom had seen action in the series. Plus, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar got the boot without even making an appearance.
And it wasn’t just the playing squad. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were both relieved of their duties. Stepping in are white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke. Sarfaraz, who was appointed red-ball head coach on April 18, had barely gotten started before he was out. Only Saim Ayub, with eight Tests, and Abdullah Fazal, with two, bring any real Test experience among the new faces. The rest of the new additions like Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah are all uncapped.
“T20 Players For a Test Match?” Shahid Afridi Is Not Holding Back
Shahid Afridi voiced his absolute confusion on X, questioning the entire logic behind these moves, especially bringing in T20 specialists for a Test match in England. He didn’t mince words. “Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision! Even the replacements make no sense, T20 players have been included for a Test match in England? What is this thinking and approach?” he wrote.
Afridi was equally baffled by Sarfaraz Ahmed’s early sacking, calling it one of the most shocking calls he’d ever seen from a selection committee. “Why has the coach been axed after 5 Test matches? This is the most shocking decision ever by a selection committee which includes so many experienced selectors,” Afridi added. This whole situation is wild, with legends of the game scratching their heads at the chaos.
The final Test at Edgbaston is up next. While the series is already lost, it’s going to be a fascinating watch with a completely new-look Pakistan squad and coaching staff. What will these uncapped players bring? What a mess!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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