Misbah-ul-Haq‘s resignation, as a prominent figure in Pakistan cricket history, comes as a shocker. Pakistan’s shambolic performance against England, trailing by 0-2 & seven players, led to the management, including coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, being sacked from their duties, and Mike Hesson was called in as an interim coach alongside Ashley Noffke
Pakistan cricket and drama go hand in hand somewhat, we can say. Maybe the drama comes from the team itself by playing the kind of cricket no one expects, or the unexpected twists and turns the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) brings on the board by suddenly changing the management itself. The heat on the team’s shambolic performance in the ongoing series with England has not settled down, with new revelations coming out Day in and day out.
Pakistan team’s dismal performances in England
Pakistan cricket team, under the leadership of Babar Azam, played their worst-ever cricket, we can say. In the first test, they lost to England, surrendering meekly by an innings and 103 runs. None of their players stood their ground against the pace of English bowlers. Everyone thought that Pakistan would come out fighting in the 2nd test at Lords but one never knew even the worst was waiting in the wings for the Pakistan team.
The team not only went down to England by a whopping 194 runs. No other players apart from Mohammad Abbas, who took a 5-fer, and Saud Shakeel, who scored 97, were able to put up a fight for Pakistan, which resulted in the team losing the series 2-0 with one match still left to play. This non-performance of the team had to play the part and create ripples across cricket-loving, especially Pakistani, supporters & former cricketers and experts who staunchly called for strict action on the non-performing players.
The results were evident that, without any prior notice, Director of the Chief Selection Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB), Aaqib Javed with immediate action, decided to call back seven players in the form of Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad and replace them with five uncapped players.
Not only the players but the management also bore the brunt of the outdoings, as Sarfaraz Ahmed, the head coach, and Umar Gul, the bowling coach, were relieved of their duties and were replaced by Mike Hesson as an interim coach alongside bowling coach Ashley Noffke. Now, this decision taken by Aaqib Javed came as a shocker to chief selection committee member Misbah-ul-Haq, who then resigned with immediate effect from the Chief selector post as well as his consultant post from the National Academy as well.
Drama in PCB
The sudden changes in the Pakistan team setup, which were made by Director of Cricket, Aaqib Javed, proved to be the main trigger point as Member of the Chief Selection Committee, Misbah-ul-Haq resignation from his position with immediate effect on the grounds of being unsatisfied with the lack of consultation with him regarding the changes.
“The selectors have been told to explain on what basis Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were picked in the Test squad,” the report quoted a PCB official as saying.
Misbah-ul-Haq, who has worked with the Pakistan cricket team in various capacities starting as a player, first as the skipper of the team till retiring at 2017 to becoming the Head coach and Chief selector in 2019 till 2021 and again becoming a part of a 5-member Consultation board post the 2025 Champions Trophy debacle by Pakistan alongside becoming a consultant for Women’s cricket too enjoyed a great tenure with Pakistan cricket.
Until the debacle happened, as it was reported that Misbah-ul-Haq was visibly unhappy about being sidelined in the decision making done for the sudden chop and change of the squad and the management and expressed the same reason to step down from his position.
“He has informed the board officials that he is ready to step down, but it was not right the way the board asked seven players to return from England and replaced them with other players with just one Test remaining in England,” another source said.
Albeit the real reason why Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned continues to be a mystery for now, as PCB is still to accept his resignation and he will continue to serve his notice period until further notice. Meanwhile, a new-look Pakistan side will lock horns with England in the 3rd Test on September 9 amidst all the chaos, only to salvage pride in an otherwise lost series.
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