Former England captain
The drastic reshuffle follows Pakistan’s defeats in the opening two Tests of the series. Among those sent home were Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Imam-ul-Haq, while coaching staff members Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were also relieved of their duties. Mike Hesson is set to oversee the team for the final Test at Edgbaston, which is scheduled to commence on September 9.
Concerns Over Long-Term Impact and Captaincy
Atherton expressed strong disapproval of the board's methods, suggesting that such abrupt changes undermine the stability required for long-term success. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, he described the situation as a “horrible position” for a captain to navigate. Atherton argued that the board’s actions have effectively stripped the leadership of its necessary influence, leaving the captain in a compromised position within the dressing room.
“This is no way to manage players and no way to build a long-term vision at all,” Atherton stated. He acknowledged that while the era of captains having absolute, unchecked control has largely passed, they must still retain a meaningful voice in team affairs to lead effectively. The former England skipper questioned how Babar can be expected to command the respect and authority of his squad after the board intervened so decisively in the team’s composition.
Babar’s Challenging Return to the Side
The scrutiny surrounding Babar’s leadership comes during a difficult period for the 31-year-old. After reclaiming the Test captaincy from Shan Masood earlier this year, Babar led the team through a series against the West Indies before arriving in England. Having missed the first Test due to injury, he returned for the second match at Lord’s, where he struggled to make an impact with the bat, recording scores of 8 and 6.
England’s 194-run victory at Lord’s secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. With the squad now significantly altered and the coaching staff reshuffled, the focus shifts to the final Test at Edgbaston. The developments have also drawn criticism from former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, who previously suggested that Babar should have resigned in the wake of the board’s decision to send the seven players home.
