Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision-making following major changes to the national team and coaching staff after two heavy Test defeats against England.
Latif raised concerns over the removal of red-ball coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, asking why they had been sent with the team if important decisions were ultimately being made from elsewhere.
Writing on X, the former wicketkeeper-batter also questioned why the selection powers of former white-ball and red-ball head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie had previously been reduced.
Latif argued that if then-captain Babar Azam had not been following the team management’s instructions, the PCB should have changed the captain rather than removing other members of the coaching setup.
“If the team had to be run by remote control, then why were Sarfaraz and Umar Gul sent? Why were the selection powers taken away from Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie? And if captain Babar Azam wasn’t listening, the captain should have been sacked — so why were Sarfaraz and Umar Gul sent back instead? Is Babar Azam the next target?” Latif asked.
His comments followed a series of changes by the PCB ahead of Pakistan’s third and final Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham, scheduled from September 9 to 13.
Pakistan suffered comprehensive defeats in the first two Tests of the series. England won the opening Test at Leeds inside three days by an innings and 103 runs. Pakistan then lost the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs, giving England an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Following the defeats, the PCB released seven players from the Test squad and replaced them with seven others, including five uncapped players.
The board also changed the coaching staff for the final Test. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were released from their red-ball coaching roles, while white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke were brought in for the match.
Latif’s remarks have now added to questions surrounding the PCB’s handling of the team following Pakistan’s poor performance in the series, with the former captain also questioning whether Babar Azam could be the next person affected by the ongoing changes.
