Babar Azam (L) & Mohammad Rizwan & Saud Shakeel (Source: AP Photos)
In the middle of Pakistan's tour of England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sacked Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul out of nowhere. The decision came after Pakistan lost to England in the Lord’s Test and lost the three-match series as well, after the Headingley horror.
To grab more attention, Pakistan removed as many as seven players for the third and final Test against England, which will take place at Edgbaston from September 9 onwards.
The seven-player list included Imam-ul-Haq, who made headlines lately for unwanted reasons. Ali Usman, who took a five-wicket haul at Headingley, is there as well, besides Mohammad Rizwan and Khurram Shahzad.
Nasser Hussain Calls PCB A ‘Laughing Stock’
Speaking at the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, former England captain Nasser Hussain could not resist tearing apart the PCB from left, right and centre. In fact, Hussain opined that the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB’s certain moves made Pakistan look like a laughing stock in front of the whole world.
“I don't think after Headingley that the world was laughing at Pakistan. My rant at Lord's about them not fighting back, about India vs Pakistan games being very one-sided and that they were a poor side playing poorly wasn't laughing at them,” Hussain said at the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
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“It was out of frustration of seeing where this great cricketing nation is now. What they have done now is make them a laughingstock. They have made it worse,” he added.
Hussain Stunned By Aaqib Javed’s Take On Imam-ul-Haq
Furthermore, Hussain made his opinion public regarding the recent remark by PCB’s high-performance director Aaqib Javed, who openly questioned Imam-ul-Haq’s intentions during Lord’s Test.
For starters, Imam did not come to bat for Pakistan during the PAK vs ENG 2nd Test, citing a low-grade left calf muscle strain.
"I cannot believe how a director of high performance can go on telly, rightly or wrongly, and throw a player under the bus. He is either injured or he is not,” Hussain stated.
“For every other touring side, if we ask how a player is doing, they would say, 'he has had a scan and will only bat if needed'. The whole handling of the Iman situation is ridiculous. You have to protect your players a little bit,” he added.
Hussain Warns PCB Is Digging Its Own Grave For Pakistan’s Future
Moreover, Hussain claimed that the way PCB had been handling the situation lately was creating Pakistan’s own downfall. And if the process continues, no positive outcome will happen.
"The point of an administration is to alleviate pressure, not put more pressure on. I cannot see how an administration cannot see that. This may be a stroke of genius but it hasn't worked in the past, so why should it work now?" he concluded.
Pakistan will have the opportunity to shut out Hussain when they will be in action in Edgbaston for the third and final Test against England.
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