Mickey Arthur Slams PCB Over Seven-Player Overhaul During England Test Series
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM — WEB DESK: Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has strongly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for making sweeping changes to the national Test squad and coaching staff before the final match of the ongoing England series, arguing that repeated reshuffles have contributed to the team’s lack of stability.
Arthur’s criticism came after the PCB released seven players — Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad — following Pakistan’s 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s.
Pakistan had already suffered an innings-and-103-run defeat at Headingley in the opening Test. The Lord’s loss gave England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, meaning the tourists can now only prevent a 3-0 clean sweep when the final Test begins at Edgbaston on September 9.
Arthur Attacks PCB’s ‘Chop and Change’ Approach
Arthur, who has had multiple spells working with Pakistan cricket, took to X to condemn the board’s decision-making.
He described the latest changes as “absolutely ridiculous” and argued that Pakistan’s problems were linked to continually changing players, coaches and selectors instead of establishing a stable structure.
Arthur’s broader argument was that planning, stability and structure are necessary for consistent performance.
His comments represent his assessment of the PCB’s management rather than an independently established explanation for Pakistan’s recent results. However, the scale and timing of the latest changes have also attracted criticism from other former players and commentators.
Seven Players Released Before Final Test
Five of the seven players released by the PCB had appeared during the series: Rizwan, Imam, Salman, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad.
Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar were also sent home despite not playing in either of the first two Tests.
One important qualification concerns Imam-ul-Haq.
Imam suffered a left calf injury during the Lord’s Test, and the PCB said he had sustained a low-grade tear. His departure should therefore not simply be characterised as a performance-related dropping alongside all six other players.
The board has called up seven replacements, including Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who already have Test experience.
Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah were also brought into the squad, with several of the replacements yet to make their Test debuts.
Coaching Staff Also Overhauled
The PCB’s response went beyond the playing squad.
Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed from the role despite having only been appointed in April, while bowling coach Umar Gul was also released from his duties for the remainder of the series.
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson will take charge of the Test side for the Edgbaston match, with Ashley Noffke taking over the bowling responsibilities.
The timing of the coaching changes — with one match still remaining in an overseas Test series — is at the heart of Arthur’s criticism.
Pakistan have struggled badly with the bat in England, failing to reach 200 in any of their four innings across the first two Tests. Saud Shakeel’s 97 at Lord’s has been the team’s standout individual batting performance.
Salman Ali Agha Decision Draws Attention
The treatment of Salman Ali Agha has attracted particular scrutiny.
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle noted that Salman captained Pakistan in the first Test, was dropped for the second and was then sent home before the third. He also questioned the logistics of bringing replacement players into England with limited preparation time before the Edgbaston Test.
Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali responded to the upheaval with a brief social-media reaction expressing disappointment.
Separately, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi questioned the logic behind the changes, including the selection strategy and the decision to remove a head coach after only a handful of Tests.
These reactions underline widespread criticism of the PCB’s approach, although they remain opinions rather than evidence that the changes will necessarily harm or improve the team’s performance.
Pakistan Searching for Answers After Heavy Defeats
The PCB’s drastic intervention follows two comprehensive losses.
England won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before completing a 194-run victory at Lord’s, securing the series with one match remaining.
At Lord’s, Pakistan were bowled out for just 110 in their first innings and managed 194 while pursuing a target of 389 in the second.
Those performances increased pressure on the players, selectors and coaching staff and ultimately preceded Monday’s extensive overhaul.
The PCB has framed the changes as a response to the team’s poor performances, but Arthur’s criticism focuses on a larger question: whether repeated personnel changes can produce sustainable improvement without longer-term continuity.
Final Test Becomes First Test of New Setup
The third and final Test is scheduled to begin at Edgbaston in Birmingham on September 9.
England have already won the series, so Pakistan cannot level it. The visitors’ immediate objective will instead be to avoid a 3-0 series defeat while integrating a substantially altered squad and coaching setup.
The match will also provide the first indication of how the new combination under Hesson responds to the upheaval.
For publication purposes, the central development is therefore broader than simply “seven players sent home”: Pakistan have changed seven members of their playing squad and replaced their Test head coach and bowling coach with one match remaining in an already-lost series — a move Arthur says reflects the instability damaging Pakistan cricket.
