Babar Azam claims lack of consultation over Pakistan squad and coaching changes

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has revealed that he was not informed of the radical changes made to the national squad and coaching staff by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ahead of the third Test against England.

Following defeats at Lord’s and Headingley, the PCB dismissed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, while also releasing seven players, including former white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha. New coaching leadership includes Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.

During a pre-match press conference, Azam stated the developments were “news to me” and that he only learned of the decisions after they were finalized. He noted that while the changes were a surprise, he views the influx of new players as a “golden opportunity” for the team to play freely despite having already lost the series. Azam also claimed to have no knowledge regarding an internal PCB investigation into team discipline and conduct.