Pakistan Cricket Hit by Fresh Storm as Misbah-ul-Haq Decides to Step Down

The turmoil in Pakistan cricket shows no sign of ending. Just a day after seven players were released from the Test squad and major changes were made to the coaching staff, former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has decided to step down from the national selection committee.

The decision comes in the middle of Pakistan’s tour of England, following a major shake-up of the Test squad ahead of the third match of the series.

However, Misbah’s resignation has not taken effect yet. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not accepted his resignation letter so far.

Pakistan suffered a heavy 194-run defeat to England in the second Test at Lord’s, leaving them 2-0 down in the three-match series. The defeat was followed by a series of major decisions from the PCB.

Ahead of the third Test, seven players were released from the squad at once. They are Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.

The changes were not limited to the playing squad. Pakistan also made significant changes to its coaching staff. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were removed from their positions. They were replaced in the Test setup by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke.

Several new faces have also been added to the squad. Five uncapped players—Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Junior, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah—have been called up. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fasal have also returned to the squad.

Just a day after this dramatic overhaul, Misbah decided to leave the selection committee. He is also stepping down from his role as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Misbah has had a long association with Pakistan cricket. In 2019, he was appointed both head coach and chief selector of the national team. He stepped down as chief selector in 2020 and left the head coach position the following year.

Despite leaving those roles, Misbah continued to remain involved with the PCB. In 2023, he became an adviser to then-PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf. A year later, he was appointed one of the mentors for the men’s Champions Cup. He has also worked as a mentor in domestic women’s cricket.

Last month, Misbah coached the Pakistan Gold side to the National Champions Cup title under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi.

In March this year, Misbah joined a four-member selection committee alongside Aaqib Javed, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq. At the same time, he was working with the PCB as a batting consultant under a 180-day annual contract.

Now, Misbah wants to bring that chapter to an end as well.

Pakistan cricket has been hit by one major decision after another, and Misbah’s decision to step aside has added another twist to an already turbulent period.

Pakistan will face England in the third Test at Edgbaston on September 9. With so much happening away from the field, the big question now is whether the latest upheaval will have any impact on the team’s performance in the crucial final Test.