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Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has stepped down from the Pakistan men’s national selection committee following a major shake-up to the Test squad during the team’s ongoing tour of England.
Misbah’s resignation comes just one day after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping changes to the Test squad ahead of the third match of the series. He has also decided to leave his position as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
The developments follow Pakistan’s disappointing start to the three-match Test series against England. Pakistan fell 2-0 behind after suffering a 194-run defeat at Lord’s, prompting the PCB to make significant changes to both the playing squad and coaching staff.
Seven Players Released From Test Squad
In the aftermath of the Lord’s defeat, the PCB released seven players from the Pakistan Test squad.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were sent home before the third Test.
The board also made changes to the coaching setup, parting ways with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.
Pakistan will now turn to a number of less experienced players as it prepares for the third Test at Edgbaston, scheduled to begin on September 9.
Five uncapped players — Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah — have been added to the squad. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have also joined the Test group.
The coaching staff has undergone a major change as well, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke moving from Pakistan’s white-ball setup to take charge of the Test team’s coaching responsibilities.
PCB Seeks Explanation Over Player Selections
Misbah’s departure comes amid questions surrounding the selection process.
The PCB reportedly issued notices to members of the selection committee following Pakistan’s defeat at Lord’s, asking them to provide written explanations regarding the selection of Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for Pakistan’s tours of the West Indies and England.
The selectors were reportedly given 24 hours to explain the reasoning behind those selections and outline the process used to make the decisions.
The issue has attracted particular attention because Rizwan had been Pakistan’s leading Test run-scorer from the beginning of 2024 through the West Indies tour and had also maintained the team’s highest batting average during that period.
Imam, meanwhile, had played only two Tests during that span but had continued to produce strong numbers in domestic cricket.
The PCB’s decision to make major changes in the middle of an overseas Test series has therefore raised further questions about Pakistan’s selection strategy and long-term planning.
Misbah’s Long Association With Pakistan Cricket
Misbah has been involved with Pakistan cricket in several different roles since ending his playing career.
He retired from international cricket in 2017 as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain. Two years later, he returned to the national setup in a dual role as head coach and chief selector.
He held both positions until October 2020, when he stepped away from his selection responsibilities to concentrate on coaching. He eventually resigned as Pakistan’s head coach the following year.
Misbah returned to the PCB setup in 2023 when he was appointed as an advisor by the then chairman of the board’s ad-hoc management committee, Zaka Ashraf.
His involvement continued under the current PCB administration. He was later appointed as one of the mentors for the Champions Cup, a domestic competition that has since been discontinued in its previous format.
He also worked with women’s domestic teams and continued contributing to Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure.
Recent Success With Pakistan Gold
Misbah’s most recent coaching assignment also ended on a positive note.
He guided the Pakistan Gold side to victory in the 50-over National Champions Cup in Multan last month. The team won the competition under the captaincy of Shaheen Afridi.
Despite his continued involvement across several areas of Pakistan cricket, Misbah’s latest decision marks another significant change in his relationship with the national selection setup.
Four-Member Selection Committee Under Pressure
Misbah became part of the Pakistan men’s selection committee in March this year.
The four-member committee included Misbah, Aaqib Javed, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq. The group was responsible for playing a key role in selecting Pakistan’s squads across formats.
Alongside his selection duties, Misbah had also been working under a PCB contract that required him to serve as a batting consultant for 180 days each year at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
His decision to leave both positions comes at a particularly difficult time for Pakistan cricket, with the Test team facing a major rebuild during its England tour.
Pakistan Faces Crucial Third Test
Pakistan now heads into the third Test needing a strong response after losing the opening two matches.
The changes mean the team will enter the Edgbaston Test with a significantly different squad and coaching structure. The introduction of several uncapped players could give Pakistan an opportunity to begin building a new Test combination.
However, the timing of the changes also places considerable pressure on the new-look team.
With the Test series already beyond Pakistan’s reach at 2-0, the final match will be an opportunity to restore some confidence and assess whether the younger players can make an immediate impact at international level.
Misbah-ul-Haq’s resignation adds another layer to what has already been a turbulent period for Pakistan cricket. The PCB will now have to address the selection committee’s future while the national Test side attempts to recover from a difficult tour of England.
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