“Pakistan cricket has gone back 10 years”—the words of former spin maestro Saeed Ajmal cut through the current turmoil within the national setup like a blade. As the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) attempts to navigate its latest self-inflicted crisis, one of the country’s most celebrated former bowlers has launched a blistering critique of the governing body, accusing the hierarchy of systemic failure and fueling an atmosphere of instability that has brought the team to its knees.
The fallout follows a demoralizing performance against England at Lord’s, a defeat so comprehensive it triggered an emergency restructuring of the squad. In a move that shocked the cricketing world, the PCB sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, while simultaneously opting to send seven players home—a list that notably included Imam-ul-Haq. The decision to drop Haq, who remained unused throughout the match, sparked accusations of a fabricated injury and highlighted the deep-seated mistrust currently characterizing the relationship between the board and its players.
## A Legacy of Instability and Disillusionment
For Ajmal, who claimed 362 wickets for Pakistan during a stellar, albeit controversial, career, this is not merely a critique of recent form—it is a condemnation of the board’s long-term philosophy. Having felt marginalized by the PCB during the final stages of his own career, Ajmal’s latest intervention is a deeply personal critique of how the board manages its internal talent.
“The board itself has demotivated the players more than anyone else,” Ajmal stated in an interview with Samaa TV. “The board is not letting any player stand. There are players who have done well, who have also been dropped. There are players who have been humiliated by the PCB.”
According to the former spinner, the current turmoil is the logical endpoint of a culture that prioritizes temporary fixes over sustainable development. By constantly reshuffling personnel, the board has created a climate of fear, preventing players from establishing rhythm or confidence.
## The Axis of Control: Aaqib Javed and Mike Hesson
Ajmal’s most pointed remarks were reserved for the men pulling the strings behind the scenes. He identified Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed and white-ball head coach Mike Hesson as the primary architects of the team’s current collapse. With Hesson now drafted into the Test side to oversee the third and final match against England at Edgbaston, the concentration of power has become a focal point for critics.
“Aaqib Javed and Mike Hesson are a team. These two are controlling everything and are responsible for this whole mess,” Ajmal declared. “The whole issue is about egos.”
By centralizing the power structure and demanding immediate results under the shadow of the axe, Ajmal argues that the PCB has effectively paralyzed the decision-making process. The sentiment reflects a growing anxiety among fans and experts alike: that the leadership is more invested in exerting authority than fostering the nuanced development required to compete with top-tier international sides.
## The Chairman’s Defense: Performance vs. Panic
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has attempted to dampen the surrounding noise, framing the squad changes as purely performance-based rather than personal. In his defense, Naqvi insisted that the board had no viable alternative when results failed to materialize on the pitch.
“Every match of a series is important for us, and we are not left with any option if a player is not performing but to look for his replacement,” Naqvi explained during an interview with Geo Network. “The purpose behind these changes is not to axe players from contention, but just to replace them. Consider [Salman] Agha, who is a very good player, but he could not click because of some reasons. He was spoken to about it.”
Naqvi’s attempts to emphasize communication suggest an awareness of the PR disaster unfolding, yet for Ajmal, these words ring hollow. He maintains that the board’s rhetoric is a convenient mask for a complete lack of long-term vision.
## A Precarious Future at Edgbaston
As the team prepares for the third Test at Edgbaston, the stakes could not be higher. Having already surrendered the series, Pakistan faces the ignominy of a clean sweep—an outcome that would almost certainly necessitate further, more drastic changes to the team’s hierarchy.
The appointment of Mike Hesson to oversee the Test side is a gamble of high stakes. The board is hoping that an injection of new coaching philosophy will steady the ship, but critics like Ajmal argue that the problem is not tactical; it is cultural. Until the PCB moves away from a revolving-door policy and addresses the friction between administration and players, the team remains in a state of suspended animation.
For now, the focus shifts to the crease at Edgbaston. Whether this reshuffled squad can defy the odds and salvage some pride remains to be seen. However, as the echoes of Ajmal’s warning resonate, it is clear that for Pakistan cricket, the battle is no longer just against England—it is a battle to reclaim its own identity from the administrative chaos that currently defines it.
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