Why did the PCB send seven players back home after the Tests in England?

The PCB sent seven players back home following Pakistan's poor performance, including a 194-run loss in the second Test, citing the need for fresh talent and changes in the squad.

How has the decision to send players back impacted the morale of the Pakistan cricket team?

Critics have stated that sending senior players back without offering support may negatively affect the team's morale, potentially increasing pressure on the remaining squad members.

‘That’s why they are in a mess’: PCB slammed for ‘ridiculous decision’ to send 7 players back home

Q: Who are the players that were sent back by the PCB?

The players sent back include Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad.

Mickey Arthur slammed the PCB for sending seven players back home ahead of the third and final Test against England.

Updated on: Sep 1, 2026, 09:51:21 IST

Written by Vishesh Roy

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Mickey Arthur, the former Pakistan coach, lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday, after the body decided to send seven players back from England following the team's poor performance in the first two Tests of the three-match series. The side led by Babar Azam has been abysmal to say the least, with neither of the two Tests going into the fifth and final day. No one expected Pakistan to win the series, but everyone expected the passion and fight to be there.

Mickey Arthur slammed the PCB for sending seven players back home (Action Images via Reuters)

But does Pakistan cricket ever work according to expectations? No one could have anticipated that the PCB would take such a drastic step of sending players and even the coaches back home. Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Test coach and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been ordered to leave England, and the unit will now be marshalled by the white-ball coach Mike Hesson.

Also Read: PCB shown no mercy after Mohsin Naqvi-led body sends Mohammad Rizwan packing from England: ‘Not good for country’

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Arthur, who has held coaching positions with the Pakistan men's team in the past, took to social media to slam the PCB for constantly tinkering with the team and failing to consider its morale.

“Absolutely ridiculous decisions by the PCB-this is the reason they are in the mess they are, because they constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors, and there is no stability! Planning, stability and structure =Consistent performance,” Arthur wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

What did the PCB say?

Post the 194-run loss in the Lord's Test against England, the PCB on Monday confirmed that seven players would head back home and be replaced by new blood.

The players include Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. A total of seven replacements have been named, including five uncapped players at Test level and two capped players.

Among the players announced as replacements, batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have played eight and two Tests, respectively, while left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas has represented Pakistan in three ODIs and four T20Is.

Pakistan lost the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs, while the second fixture saw them go down by 194 runs. The Babar-led unit is currently at the last spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.

Updated Test squad for Birmingham Test: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishesh Roy
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.Read More

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