Pakistan’s Test squad has been reshaped dramatically after a 194-run defeat to England at Lord’s, and the Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed an internal disciplinary inquiry linked to reports about player discipline and conduct.
Sweeping changes to squad and staff
Seven players were dropped following the second Test: Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed from their roles.
Seven players came into the group as replacements, among them the capped batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal and five uncapped players.
The extent of the changes has fuelled speculation that more than results lies behind them. PCB Director Media and Digital Communications Amir Mir said the board had started an internal inquiry after media reports on discipline and conduct. Reports in Pakistan also claim some players’ mobile phones were taken by the board and will be held until the third and final Test ends. Neither the players concerned nor the exact reason has been made public.
Questions over Imam-ul-Haq’s injury
PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed publicly raised questions about the circumstances of Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury. Imam sustained a low-grade calf tear during the Lord’s Test and did not bat in either innings, even though Pakistan badly needed runs. Aaqib said the matter would be reviewed and suggested it needed further investigation.
A venue with a difficult past
Lord’s adds historical weight to the story. It was the scene of Pakistan’s 2010 spot-fixing scandal, in which the then captain Salman Butt, together with Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, was found guilty of taking payments from a bookmaker over deliberately bowled no-balls.
The present inquiry, however, concerns discipline and conduct. Available reports do not show that any current player has been involved in match-fixing or spot-fixing, and any conclusions will depend on what the board’s investigation finds.
