Pakistan has initiated a drastic restructuring of its national cricket team following a pair of crushing Test defeats against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday that head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have been released from their duties. They will be replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, respectively, as the team looks to recover before the third Test at Edgbaston next month.
The decision follows a difficult series for the tourists, who currently trail 2-0 in the three-match campaign. Pakistan suffered an innings and 103-run loss in the series opener at Headingley, followed by a 194-run defeat at Lord’s on Sunday. The team’s performance has drawn significant criticism, with some observers labeling the current lineup as one of the country’s weakest in decades.
Alongside the coaching changes, the PCB confirmed that seven players have been released from the Test squad. The list of departing players includes Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Notably, Salman Ali Agha, who served as stand-in captain at Headingley during Babar Azam’s injury absence, is among those returning home.
England’s victory at Lord’s, secured by a dominant performance from their pace quartet of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, and Gus Atkinson, marks the first time England has won a multi-match series since December 2024. The win comes under the leadership of Joe Root, who returned to the Test captaincy following the sudden international retirement of Ben Stokes.
The series has not been without its own internal challenges for England. The build-up to the second Test was marred by the arrest of fast bowler Brydon Carse, who was dropped from the squad after being handcuffed by police outside a Derby nightclub. This incident added to a string of alcohol-related controversies that have plagued the England team since late last year, including incidents involving Harry Brook in Wellington and breaches of curfew by Stokes and Atkinson in London.
In response to these recurring off-field issues, Root has opted to remove the formal team curfew, instead calling for players to exercise personal responsibility. Addressing the media after the series-clinching win, Root emphasized the importance of professional conduct. “It’s hard to win Test matches, hard to win Test series, so enjoy it and celebrate it, but in a sensible, grown-up way,” Root stated.
Looking ahead, Root expressed optimism regarding his new fast-bowling unit, noting that the current attack provides a potent threat that he hopes to build upon. As Pakistan prepares for the final Test, the board’s sweeping changes reflect an urgent attempt to salvage pride after a series that has been defined by both England’s tactical superiority and Pakistan’s inability to compete at the highest level. The report also notes that and videos circulated of England players appearing drunk on nights out during the 4-1 Ashes series thrashing by Australia, a curfew was introduced, after white-ball captain Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington. The report also notes that “It’s important we’re not talking about that, absolutely,” said Root.
