Cricket’s celebrated stars, influential journalists and leading media outlets have reacted with disbelief and shock to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to sack head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul and send former captain Mohammad Rizwan, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and five other players home midway through the England tour.

The decisions have triggered widespread criticism of an England campaign that had been poorly planned and badly handled by Pakistan’s cricket managers in Lahore.

Former Pakistan captain and PCB chairman RAMIZ RAJA told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’m trying to convince myself this is all OK, but it is not.

“It just shows Pakistan cricket has hit the panic button. It’s not good for the game, it’s not good for the confidence of the players who have come in, or for the players who are left, because it makes you a selfish team.”

“This is the most shocking decision ever by a selection committee which includes so many experienced selectors,” former captain SHAHID AFRIDI wrote on X. “Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision. Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included for a Test match in England?”

Another former Pakistan captain, SHOAIB MALIK, described the PCB’s decision as “disrespectful”.

“The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan. Phrases like ‘sent on the first flight back’ are disrespectful.

“Accountability should start with those who broke the system, not with players, especially those who were on the bench or have played two or three Test matches. Plus, accountability starts once a tour is done, not in the middle of it.

“Players should not be going through such mental stress and social media [scrutiny] after every bad game, or the fear of failure will settle in the minds of our players.”

RASHID LATIF, another former Pakistan captain, blamed the PCB for creating the chaos and confusion.

“Manage a cricket [team] by creating a bigger crisis has been the formula of the authorities – the recipe was the same again, but this time a new ingredient of disrespect added.

“Those who created the team, ironically, are the ones who are punishing the team. What we forget in life is that it is a circle: today you disrespect someone, it will come back to you.”

England’s former captain KEVIN PIETERSEN expressed his shock on X: “What on this planet am I reading about Pakistan making all these changes and sending players home etc …

“It can’t be real?! Surely?!”

“Pakistan cricket never fails to amaze,” wrote former England captain MICHAEL VAUGHAN on X, adding: “Firing your head coach and bowling coach AND flying 7 players home halfway through a Test tour?! It’s a bold strategy. Edgbaston is going to be fascinating.”

“Ridiculous decision,” was former Pakistan head coach MICKEY ARTHUR‘s reaction on X. He added: “This is the reason they are in the mess they are because they constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors, and there is no stability!”

“More Pakistan shambles,” wrote LAWRENCE BOOTH, editor of Wisden Almanack, on X.

English journalist PAUL NEWMAN wrote in The New York Times: “… such sweeping changes are unprecedented in the middle of a Test series and highlight the turmoil that is never very far away from the surface in Pakistani cricket.”

OSMAN SAMIUDDIN, Cricinfo‘s senior editor and one of the most respected journalists covering Pakistan cricket, termed the decision “disgraceful”.

“This is a disgraceful way to treat players and coaches who spend their entire lives pursuing the honour of representing Pakistan. This is how they are treated in return.”

HARSHA BHOGLE, the respected broadcaster, mocked the PCB on X: “Trust Pakistan cricket to do the unbelievable. Salman Agha, captain in the first Test, dropped from the second, sent home before the third!

“Coach and bowling coach gone midway through the series. Senior keeper sent home. Replacements hoping to get visas in time, let alone be ready for a Test match. As always, more action off the field!”

SCYLD BERRY, who described the current Pakistan team as the weakest to tour England in 50 years in The Telegraph, was critical of Pakistan’s cricket managers.

“Shame on those who have shamed the Pakistan cricketers by sending them home mid-series.”

Cricket analyst AHMER NAJEEB SATTI termed the decision “one of the darkest days in the history of Pakistan cricket”.

Political analyst SHAHZAD IQBAL said: “Since we can’t provide entertainment on the field anymore, we have decided to make a fool of ourselves off the field … so embarrassing.”

ALI KHAN TAREEN, former owner of the Multan Sultans franchise in the Pakistan Super League, wrote on X: “It’s not the players’ fault. It’s the constant rollercoaster the board is putting them through.”

MEDIA HEADLINES AND COMMENTS

The PCB’s decision made headlines across the globe, with newspapers largely sympathetic towards the players and critical of the administration.

The Telegraph, in a story headlined Pakistan has become cricket’s basket case, wrote: “Political interference and talent mismanagement have left former world No 1 Test side trailing Full Member nations – including rivals India.”

The Daily Mail headline read: “Pakistan remove coach and replace SEVEN players ahead of third Test against England after heavy defeat at Lord’s as shambolic tour hits new low.”

The Times headline said: “Pakistan send seven players home and sack head coach and assistant“, while The Guardian ran with: “Pakistan sack head coach and send seven players home after England Test series defeat.”

“Pakistan have a history of making eccentric decisions in the wake of defeats. On England’s last tour of Pakistan in 2024, the hosts responded to losing the first Test, when England made a total in excess of 800, by playing the second Test on the same pitch in Multan,” wrote the BBC under the headline Pakistan drop seven players and release head coach.

Under the banner Pakistan’s products of toxic dysfunctionality deserve sympathy, not ire, cricket’s most influential website Cricinfo took a severe swipe at the PCB administration, writing: “If we are really to call this the weakest Pakistan side ever, we must necessarily preface it by saying they are the product of the worst administrative period in Pakistan’s history.”

Agence France-Presse (AFP) wrote: “The team has been labelled one of Pakistan’s worst and the Pakistan Cricket Board has taken drastic action ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston starting on September 9.”

The Associated Press (AP) said: “Pakistan pushed the panic button after heavy defeats in the two cricket tests in England by replacing seven players and two coaches on Monday.”

“Visitors Pakistan replaced seven players and their head coach on Monday, after suffering two heavy losses to England in their ongoing three-Test series,” reported Reuters, another of the world’s major international news agencies.