Aaqib Javed defends Pakistan’s mid-series shake-up, says team failed to compete in England

KARACHI: National selector Aaqib Javed on Tuesday defended the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) controversial mid-series shake-up, saying the team’s inability to compete in the first two Tests against England had forced the selectors to change the combination and “mindset” for the final match of the series.

The PCB’s decision to sack red-ball head coach Sarfraz Ahmed — to replace him with white-ball head coach Mike Hesson — send seven players home and replace bowling coach Umar Gul with Australian Ashley Noffke has attracted widespread criticism, with former players and coaches questioning the wisdom of making sweeping changes with a Test still remaining in the series.

Selection committee member Misbah-ul-Haq subsequently resigned after reportedly not being consulted over the changes.

Speaking on a private news channel after the developments, Aaqib acknowledged that the selectors would have to take responsibility for the 17-member squad they had originally chosen but argued that the team’s management had failed to make the required decisions during the tour.

“When we select a team, we sit with the coach and captain and build a squad. We are absolutely prepared to take responsibility for that squad,” Aaqib said.

“But when you go on tour, you have to make the kind of combination you need from match to match.”

Pakistan have lost both Tests against England, by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley and by 194 runs at Lord’s, leaving them 2-0 down in the series.

Aaqib said the selectors had identified options within the touring squad, including an all-rounder, a second wicket-keeper and fast bowler Ubaid Shah, but those options were not used.

“I also spoke to the captain and the coach before this Test match and told them to play your fast bowler, Ubaid Shah, because you have played three fast bowlers of essentially the same type,” he said.

He also pointed to the lack of bowling options among Pakistan’s top seven batters as a reason for considering an all-rounder.

According to Aaqib, the inclusion of a bowler such as Ubaid, who can shoulder a significant workload, would have changed the balance of the attack.

“When you include a fast bowler like that, your entire bowling composition changes,” he said.

The selector also defended the decision to alter the wicket-keeping arrangement, saying Ghazi Ghori, who was part of the touring squad, could have been considered in place of Mohammad Rizwan.

Aaqib’s comments appeared aimed at drawing a distinction between the selectors’ responsibility for picking the squad and the management’s responsibility for deploying it effectively.

However, he acknowledged that the selectors could not escape responsibility altogether.

“The 17-member squad… I don’t think anyone had any doubts that there was something wrong with the players’ performances or that there was some deficiency in the squad,” he said. “But when you have played two Test matches in the West Indies (in July-August), and after those two Tests you are out of form, you are simply not performing and you are not even able to compete, then we have to do something.”

The argument provides the PCB with a rationale for making changes before the Birmingham Test on Sept 9, despite criticism that the players and coaches should have been allowed to complete the tour before accountability was sought.

Aaqib said Pakistan’s poor performances had made a change in approach necessary.

“Now that you have lost the series, having lost both Test matches, there is no harm in changing your mindset for the third Test,” he said. “You can show the world that we still have talent.”

He also defended the selectors’ decision to appoint Babar Azam as captain, despite the batter having previously been removed from the leadership position.

Aaqib said Pakistan had few players capable of taking on a leadership role and that Babar, being a senior player and the team’s leading batter, was therefore considered the logical choice.

He suggested, however, that the leadership and management had to be held accountable when performances failed to improve.

“If you do not bring about any changes within it, then the problem becomes that the same players keep playing but do not perform,” he said.

Aaqib also sought to explain the PCB’s decision to bring in Hesson, saying the New Zealander was familiar with the players and could get a better response from them.

Hesson has been handed charge of the red-ball side for the final Test following Sarfraz’s removal.

Aaqib said the message to the players was that performances and effort had to improve on important tours.

“When you go on tour and play a series like this, you have to raise your performance, you have to compete, and you have to perform in important tours. There has to be a visible effort from the team,” he said.

The selector also revealed that the PCB would initiate an inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq’s failure to bat in either innings of the Lord’s Test after suffering what was described as a low-grade calf injury.

Imam was among the seven players sent home from England, along with Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.

Five uncapped players have been drafted into the squad for the Birmingham Test.

The wholesale changes have nevertheless raised questions about the PCB’s planning, particularly because five of the seven players sent home did not feature in the opening Test.

Aaqib acknowledged the apparent contradiction but maintained that a failure to compete had left the selectors with little choice.

He said the decision should be judged by whether the revised side could produce a better performance.

“If this inclusion results in your team performing better, then surely that can only improve your image. What could possibly be worse?” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2026