Pakistan Cricket in Turmoil: Players Left Shocked After Being Dropped via Social Media

The Pakistan cricket setup has been plunged into a state of deep instability following a disastrous 2-0 Test series defeat against England. In a move that has sparked outrage and internal confusion, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) executed a massive squad overhaul, reportedly leaving several players to discover they had been axed through social media rather than through formal communication from team management.

A Breakdown in Communication

According to a report by The Telegraph, the lack of professional courtesy during the cull has left the squad stunned. As the news broke, many players were on their day off in London or resting at the team hotel. Rather than receiving a briefing from the coaching staff or the board, they were flooded with messages from friends and family, with many having to re-read the official PCB press release multiple times to confirm the news was not a hoax.

“The team management had not told them beforehand. To say they were shocked was an understatement,” the report noted, adding that the lack of direct consultation has left a “bitter taste” among the players, many of whom feel they have been made scapegoats for the team’s collective failures.

Sweeping Changes to Squad and Staff

The fallout from the England tour has resulted in seven players being recalled, including wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, opening batter Imam-ul-Haq, former captain Salman Ali Agha, spinner Ali Usman, and pacer Khurram Shahzad. Additionally, Aamir Jamal and Awais Zafar were sent home without having played a single match during the series.

The leadership structure also underwent a major shake-up. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were relieved of their duties. They are set to be replaced by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke for the final Test in Birmingham, slated for September 9. The volatility reached the board level as well, with former captain Misbah-ul-Haq resigning from the selection committee, citing that he was not consulted regarding the mass recall of players.

Lingering Questions Over ‘Character’ and Performance

The board’s decision to cut ties with several senior members has been accompanied by a public questioning of the players’ “character, fitness, and decision-making.”

Specific scrutiny has fallen on Mohammad Rizwan, whom the PCB reportedly views as a “disruptive presence” within the dressing room, with officials expressing frustration over his shot selection. Meanwhile, the handling of Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury—which sidelined him at Lord’s—has also become a point of contention between the board and the player.

With Pakistan having lost 10 of their last 11 away Test matches, the pressure to turn the tide is immense. However, the current chaotic handling of player personnel suggests that the issues within Pakistan cricket run far deeper than on-field performance, raising serious questions about the professional culture currently governing the team.