Sports · 01 September, 2026 · 3 min read
Misbah-ul-Haq Resigns From Pakistan Selection Committee As PCB Overhauls Test Squad In England
Misbah-ul-Haq resigns from PCB selection committee and batting consultant role amid squad changes. Seven players dropped from the Test squad ahead of the third Test against England.
Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury is treated as factual injury vs questioned as suspicious.
8 of 9 outlets skipped it: kaneria accuses PCB of “no logic” selection and coaching instability.
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Same story, two versions
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The Express Tribune
“questions are being raised over Imam-ul-Haq’s “suspicious injury.””Read the original ↗
Sky Sports
“Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq - injured during the second Test defeat at Lord's”Read the original ↗
The Express Tribune and Sky Sports frame Imam’s calf issue differently, raising suspicion only in Tribune.
Misbah quits amid shake-up
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq offered his resignation from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s national selection committee and as a batting consultant as the PCB made major changes to the Test squad and coaching staff during the ongoing tour of England. Rediff said the PCB is yet to accept Misbah’s resignation, and it reported he also decided to step down from his role as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. The timing of the resignation followed Pakistan’s 2-0 Test series loss to England, including a 194-run defeat at Lord’s that left Pakistan 2-0 down in the three-match series.
“Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from Pakistan's national selection committee and as a batting consultant.”
Rediff reported the PCB released seven players from the Test squad ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston, beginning September 9, and it said the head coach and bowling coach were removed from their roles. The Times of India added that Cricinfo reported Misbah had offered his resignation but that the PCB was yet to accept it, while also saying the PCB announced wholesale changes just a day earlier after Pakistan’s heavy 194-run defeat at Lord’s.
Afridi calls it shocking
Former captain Shahid Afridi branded Pakistan’s mid-series overhaul “the most shocking decision ever,” writing on X that he was “Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision!” The Independent said England will fully expect to complete a 3-0 sweep in the third Rothesay Test at Edgbaston next week, while noting Pakistan would be playing a drastically different side after the PCB sent seven players home and replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with white-ball coach Mike Hesson. BBC Radio 5 Live quoted ex-Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja saying, “It just shows Pakistan cricket has hit a panic button,” as Pakistan dropped seven players and called up five uncapped players.
The BBC also reported that the tourists face England in the third and final match of the series at Edgbaston, starting on Wednesday, 9 September, after dropping players including Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad. In the same BBC report, Afridi’s critique was tied to the selection committee’s choices, including the inclusion of T20 players for a Test match in England and the coach being axed after five Test matches.
Birmingham Test stakes rise
As Pakistan prepare for the third Test at Edgbaston, the PCB’s changes include releasing seven players—Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad—and replacing them with Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal and Arafat Minhas plus four uncapped players. Sky Sports said Pakistan go into the final Test of the series at Edgbaston looking to avoid a 3-0 whitewash, after losing by 194 runs at Lord’s following an innings-and-103-run drubbing in the series opener at Headingley. SThe Express Tribune reported the PCB replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke taking over for the third Test, and it said the revised squad includes Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Junior, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.T
In the background of the squad shake-up, the BBC reported Pakistan were scheduled to have an audience with King Charles at Clarence House this week, while also noting it was set to take place despite the series almost coming to controversial early end during the second Test. The News Pakistan said the third and final Test will be played at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham from September 9 to 13, and it described Pakistan’s 194-run defeat at Lord’s as leaving England with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.