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“Not sure”: Shahid Afridi slams PCB for removing coaches and players after Test series defeat in England
Samira Vishwas | September 1, 2026 11:24 AM CST

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan have pressed the panic button and added new coaches and players to the squad for the third Test against England. The team has already lost two Tests, with the batters failing to get going against the host nation.

The wholesale changes in a series which Pakistan has already lost didn’t go down well with former Pakistan captains Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi.

“The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan,” Malik wrote on X. “Phrases like “sent on the first flight back” are disrespectful … Plus accountability starts once a tour is done, not in the middle of it. Players should not be going through such mental stress and social media after every bad game, or the fear of failure will settle in the minds of our players.”

Afridi said the sacking of so many players and coaches midway through a tour was “shocking.”

“Not sure what the logic or reasoning behind this decision!” Afridi said on X.

“Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included for a Test match in England? What is this thinking and approach? 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.”

Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Awais Zafar are returning ho


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