England v Pakistan Test Series 2026.

[bigfluffylemon]

Seven?

The players called up are mostly uncapped T20 players. This is just weird.

England being England, they'll probably lose now.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe a response to the Sky interview. It undermines the series without breaking their contract.

[andy]

Is this a dream?! The PCB are killing Pakistan cricket ... absolutely bizarre events I like hesson coming in but those players shouldn't be called up and I wouldn't have dropped Agha, Rizwan or Usman ali

[meninblue]

The trend cotinues. Pakistan cricket seeing new lows since last 4 years. The whole cricketing system is messed.

Usually expect them to have a wily spinner who will do some damage.

Lead spinner Noman isn't touring. It's not a series for spinners, but a decent bowler might have done ok on the dry surfaces.

Noman is already 39 and Pakistan needs to find his replacement. Sajid Khan was their next preferred specialsit spinner. He did not play any of the two test. Ali Usman's selection as lone spinner was a surprise to me as well. Sajid and Usman are nearing mid 30'.

[andy]

The trend cotinues. Pakistan cricket seeing new lows since last 4 years. The whole cricketing system is messed.

Usually expect them to have a wily spinner who will do some damage.

Lead spinner Noman isn't touring. It's not a series for spinners, but a decent bowler might have done ok on the dry surfaces.

Noman is already 39 and Pakistan needs to find his replacement. Sajid Khan was their next preferred specialsit spinner. He did not play any of the two test. Ali Usman's selection as lone spinner was a surprise to me as well. Sajid and Usman are nearing mid 30'.

Usman bowled well you can't jettison him 2 tests after getting a 5fer he's been their best bowler

[meninblue]

Maybe a response to the Sky interview. It undermines the series without breaking their contract.

Imran Khan's arrest has been the major news in Pakistan since he was arrested and jailed. Remember when Imran Khan got elected as PM; he appointed Ramiz Raja as deputy to Ehsan Mani, followed by Ehsan Mani resigning and Ramiz taking over as PCB chariman. Not new because every time Pakistan got a new Prime Minister (or military leadership like Musharraf) , the PCB gets a new Chairman very soon. Certainly the interviews seem to be only plausible reason why PCB has reacted like this. The military establishment in Pakistan which is overshadowing the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and taking decisions instead of him have been known to arrest citizens and those who support or protest in support of Imran Khan in any way whatsoever.


No touring team has called back so many players suddenly when just 1 test match is left. Saim Ayub does not deserves a test comeback utnil he improves his batting. Mohd. Imran jr., Razaullah, Abduallah Fazal, Arfaz Minhas and Saad Baig are others who will fly to England.

[meninblue]

The trend cotinues. Pakistan cricket seeing new lows since last 4 years. The whole cricketing system is messed.

Usually expect them to have a wily spinner who will do some damage.

Lead spinner Noman isn't touring. It's not a series for spinners, but a decent bowler might have done ok on the dry surfaces.

Noman is already 39 and Pakistan needs to find his replacement. Sajid Khan was their next preferred specialsit spinner. He did not play any of the two test. Ali Usman's selection as lone spinner was a surprise to me as well. Sajid and Usman are nearing mid 30'.

Usman bowled well you can't jettison him 2 tests after getting a 5fer he's been their best bowler

He was indeed the highest wicket taker in that test for Pakistan, but his inclusion over Sajid Khan was surprising.

[andy]

I agree but makes no sense to send him home now...it's baffling the whole situation is utterly ridiculous

[meninblue]

I agree but makes no sense to send him home now...it's baffling the whole situation is utterly ridiculous

None of the players should have been sent home. Whatever changes they had to make , should have been done after the series. But they wanted to send a message - do not get involved in politics related to Imran.

Now Misbah Ul Haq has resigned after this news. He must have felt like a person with no authority when those who have given him the post told to recall so many players without his go ahead. And knowing Misbah, he is one of the very few calm minds in Pakistan cricket although he did not enjoy much success as Pakistan's Mens head coach and selector now. This is the lowest that Pakistan have fallen of a decline which started in their cricket when Ramiz Raja got selected as PCB chairman after Imran was elected as Prime Minister.

There was lot of uproar when Imran's sister gave and interview to Indian channel some months back about his health. His son was in news as well previosuly when he talked about Imran in media some time back. Few days back some Indian ex-cricketers who are now commentators also wished for Imran's recovery. Now this SKY interview.


iirc there has not been a U-19 domestic tournament in Pakistan for last two years. One more age level domestic tournmanet was scrapped. The Departments were asked to give money for the Department tournament which is also one of the tournament in doemstics. Saim Ayub would have scored me good points playing Departments in all year FL.

Now in tests they are at same level of SL, WI and Bangladesh. Even Bangladesh beat them 2-0 at home and away - first time in Pakistan's cricekt history. Team has already lost 10 out of last 11 away tests. But things have really got worse with this situation.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good info Adi.

[meninblue]

Thanks Arthur.

I wonder why Babar Azam has not objected to this whole sale selection changes and take a stance for his team mates.

This seems to be a decission from PCB administration rather than Misbah who has resigned as selectors. If Misbah bad been complicit with the PCB administrators he would not have resigned.

[andy]

Thanks Arthur.

I wonder why Babar Azam has not objected to this whole sale selection changes and take a stance for his team mates.

This seems to be a decission from PCB administration rather than Misbah who has resigned as selectors. If Misbah bad been complicit with the PCB administrators he would not have resigned.

Even if he has would they listen? PCB do what they want...always have done always will

[meninblue]

Thanks Arthur.

I wonder why Babar Azam has not objected to this whole sale selection changes and take a stance for his team mates.

This seems to be a decission from PCB administration rather than Misbah who has resigned as selectors. If Misbah bad been complicit with the PCB administrators he would not have resigned.

Even if he has would they listen? PCB do what they want...always have done always will

Offcourse they won't allow him to speak. After all Mohsin Naqvi who is the PCB chairman as well as Interior minister is relative of wife of Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir. The chief Asim Munir has more power in Pakistan than even Supreme court as passed in some recent constituional changes. Few months back Shoaib Akhtar gave interview to an Indian channel. He said that Mohsin Naqvi knows nothing about cricket and is incompetent. The very next day Shoaib clarified that those comments were not directed at Mohsin Naqvi and that Mohsin had best interest of Pakistan cricket.

[andy]

And now the Imam faking injury story is gathering more and more momentum...tour in crisis

[andy]

Don't understand the ridiculously long break between the 2nd and third test