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With the team already 2-0 down in the three-Test series against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a series of sudden changes that have raised more questions than answers. It really hurts me because, even though I live in England, I am Pakistani at heart. Because he lacked prior coaching experience and qualifications, now, I personally didn’t agree with him becoming the Pakistan Test team head coach. Because i don’t think they did anything wrong, i feel very sorry for Sarfaraz and Umar Gul.
They’ve won World Cups for Pakistan. Sarfaraz won a World Cup at the U19 level and then won the Champions Trophy as national captain.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Atiq-uz-Zaman has expressed his disappointment over the situation, saying the team is currently “in shambles” and at an “all-time low”. Pakistan cricket is currently at an all-time low,” Atiq-uz-Zaman told IANS. Atiq said he would have expected the opener to come out and bat even if he was not fully fit.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan cricket is going through a major crisis. Seven players, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were sent home. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke were asked to take charge of the red-ball team, while former captain Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the selection panel and also stepped away from his batting consultant role at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. The changes have added to the uncertainty around a Pakistan team already struggling across formats. “I don’t understand why Khurram Shehzad was dropped or why the spinner (Ali Usman) was sent home after taking the most wickets in the Leeds Test. All of a sudden, now T20 bowlers are brought into the Test squad. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Pakistan cricket is in shambles at the moment. I played for my country and I want them to improve and perform well in different conditions. “Look, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul are greats of Pakistan cricket. He deserves respect. “I didn’t support that appointment. But once you make him the coach, you have to back him. Give him a fair chance before you disrespect him and send him home in the middle of a Test series. It is unacceptable. If the players on the field can’t perform, or if you haven’t selected a team capable of performing, what is a coach supposed to do? Let’s see what Mike Hesson does now,” he added.