Web Desk(National Times)- The Pakistan Cricket Board\u2019s (PCB) decision to sack the national team\u2019s head coach and send seven players back home following the defeat against England at Lord\u2019s last week came as a surprise to captain Babar Azam, he revealed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 194-run drubbing \u2014 which sealed the three-match series for the hosts \u2014 was followed by Sarfraz Ahmed\u2019s removal as Pakistan\u2019s head coach and Umar Gul\u2019s dismissal as bowling coach. They were replaced by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seven players, including seasoned campaigners Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, were axed from the squad midway through the series, while five of the replacements flown to the UK were uncapped players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wholesale changes, as it emerged later, were planned outside the Pakistan dressing room by the national selection panel. As was the case with most members of the team\u2019s contingent, the developments came as a surprise to Babar as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was news to me as well,\u201d Babar said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the final Test at Edgbaston. \u201cI only found out about these things later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the PCB\u2019s dramatic move, the board\u2019s high-performance director and selector Aaqib Javed revealed that the decision to sack the coaching staff was a reaction to their inability to make certain selection calls ahead of the second Test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Sarfraz and Umar bore the brunt of the PCB\u2019s action, Babar was retained to lead the side in the final Test. The captain, however, distanced himself from the board\u2019s decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan\u2019s Azan Awais during practice ahead of the third Test match against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, England on September 7, 2026. \u2014 Reuters
\u201cBut as I said, the PCB made the decisions, so I think they would be better placed to explain them,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever decision the PCB has taken, as a player and as captain, I have to go along with the decision made by the cricket board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026The PCB would have made its decision after giving it considerable thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn my opinion, it would be better to ask them about it because they would be able to explain it much better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Babar also gave a straight \u201cno\u201d when asked whether he was aware of the PCB\u2019s internal inquiry into the discipline and conduct of certain players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing to lose
Babar and his players have little option but to put a tumultuous week behind them and focus on what they can produce on the field. To do so, however, he and Hesson have a number of fresh faces to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The uncapped duo of pacer Razaullah and all-rounder Arafat Minhas could make their debuts, while Saim Ayub \u2014 who has eight Tests to his name \u2014 is likely to return to the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Babar described the situation as an opportunity for the young players amid the chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
England\u2019s Jamie Smith during practice ahead of the third Test match against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, England on September 7, 2026. \u2014 Reuters
\u201c\u2026The new players are coming in, and they have a golden opportunity to grab it and play this game,\u201d he said, adding that the final Test, being a dead rubber, could help Pakistan handle the pressure better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor us, this is an opportunity as a team and as a group. The series is lost, but we have nothing to lose. So we can play freely, go out onto the ground and believe in ourselves as a team,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have had a couple of days of practice and have spoken to each other a lot. Whenever a new team or a youngster comes in, there is a little excitement, and that excitement is visible.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Web Desk(National Times)- The Pakistan Cricket Board\u2019s (PCB) decision to sack the national team\u2019s head coach and send seven players back home following the defeat against England at Lord\u2019s last week came as a surprise to captain Babar Azam, he revealed on Tuesday. The 194-run drubbing \u2014 which sealed the three-match series for the hosts […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n