Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to release seven players and two coaches ahead of the third and final Test against England, saying the move reflected a recurring pattern of turmoil that had distracted the team from performances on the field.
Pakistan made sweeping changes to their Test set-up after losing the first two matches of the series, including a 194-run defeat at Lord’s that gave England an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The PCB released seven players from the squad, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.
Five uncapped players — Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah — were added to the squad, along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have a combined 10 Tests of experience.
Pakistan also made changes to their coaching staff, with Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul released from their roles. White-ball coaching staff Jason Gillespie and Ashley Noffke were brought into the Test set-up as head coach and bowling coach respectively.
Yousuf said the changes did not appear to be based solely on performance and compared the latest upheaval with previous periods of instability in Pakistan cricket.
“The recent decision by the authorities to recall players and coaching staff from the ongoing tour does not appear to be only performance related,” Yousuf said in a post on X.
“After all, we are not sending legends like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, or Saeed Anwar as replacements. Instead, this move reflects the familiar cycle of internal chaos, differences of opinion, and controversies that have long haunted Pakistan cricket.”
Yousuf said similar turbulence had repeatedly affected Pakistan cricket since their 1992 World Cup triumph, undermining stability and shifting attention away from performances.
“We have endured such turmoil in different forms many times before, each episode leaving scars on the team’s progress and the fans’ faith,” he added.
“The lesson is clear! Only strong performances and consistent positive results can silence the noise. Pakistan cricket must focus on the field, not the boardroom, if it is to restore credibility and inspire confidence among fans. Success remains the most effective antidote.”
The third Test begins at Edgbaston on Sept. 9, with England seeking a series sweep and Pakistan aiming to avoid a clean sweep after a difficult start to the tour.
