PCB Sends Players Back From England Mid-Tour; Has BCCI Ever Done The Same?

Imam ul Haq Mohammad Rizwan KL Rahul Hardik Pandya Mohsin Naqvi Jay Shah. Image Credits: WebAfter a brutal series defeat at the hands of England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to swing the axe. According to reports, as many as seven players, including senior players like Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha are to be sent home amid the ongoing Pakistan Test Tour of England. A major reshuffle is said to be on the cards for Pakistan following their humiliating losses in the first two Tests against England.Three Pakistan players receive back-home tickets before the end of the tourAfter the second match, an emergency meeting of Pakistan’s team management was held in London to evaluate the performances, with changes expected to come into effect before the third Test, scheduled to start on September 9, 2026.Notably, while Mohammad Rizwan is receiving a back-home ticket due to a poor run and criticism over irresponsible dismissals, Imam-ul-Haq is set to receive the axe as the PCB launches an investigation into the authenticity and handling of his reported calf injury sustained during the Lord's Test.Apart from that, fresh reports emerged that five other players including Pakistan's T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha, have also joined the list of players, who are to be sent back home, before the Birmingham Test. While other names are: Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.In this article, we take a look at the multiple instances when Indian cricketers were sent back home midway through a tour for multiple reasons, including but not limited to, disciplinary violations, and game restructuring.1) Lala Amarnath during the 1936 England TourFamously considered the ‘Father Figure’ of Indian cricket, Lala Amarnath was sent back home from the 1936 England Tour by captain Maharajkumar of Vizianagram (Vizzy) on official charges of "indiscipline" and insubordination.However, there were reports claiming that Vizzy secured the captaincy through his royal status and wealth rather than his cricketing talent.According to publicly available information, Amarnath sustained a back injury during a match. During a practice session, Vizzy deliberately delayed his turn to bat until late in the day to stop him from resting.Frustrated by the tactical antics, Amarnath returned to the pavilion, threw his kit down, and vented in Punjabi. Vizzy and the then-team manager Major E. Brittan-Jones treated this outburst as a severe disciplinary breach.Later, Amarnath was packed off to India before a single Test match of the series could begin.2) Irfan Pathan during the South Africa tour in 2006Former Indian left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan lost his spot in the Indian squad during the Tests in South Africa in 2006 and was dropped for the subsequent tour of the West Indies as well.According to the then-captain Rahul Dravid, Pathan was not expected to play any part in the ongoing series, and was sent back to take part in two Ranji Trophy matches.Also read: Irfan Pathan Thrashed For 'Fatherly' Defending Vaibhav SooryavanshiThe tough call was made as Pathan had very recently impressed with performances in Australia and Pakistan, and the team management desperately needed him to regain some semblance of bowling form ahead of the 2007 ODI World Cup.3) Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul during the Australia tour in 2019In 2019, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul received one of the most controversial suspensions in Indian cricket.On January 12, 2019, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed an indefinite suspension from playing any form of cricket with immediate effect, and the players would return to India amid the Australia tour over their misogynistic comments on the popular TV chat show 'Koffee with Karan'.The Indian cricket board further inquired against the two cricketers for misconduct and indiscipline.However, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) lifted the ban after only a couple of weeks. Moreover, they were slapped with a fine of Rs 20 lakh each by the BCCI Ombudsman, Justice DK Jain, along with an order to pay and to start multiple charities.4) Prithvi Shaw during the 2018–19 tour of AustraliaPrithvi Shaw was sent home during the 2018–19 tour of Australia due to a severe left ankle lateral ligament injury sustained in a practice game.During a warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Shaw rolled his ankle awkwardly while attempting to take a catch near the boundary ropes. Scans revealed a lateral ligament injury that ruled him out of the entire four-Test series.Also read - Prithvi Shaw Controversies: From Doping Violations To Cheating AllegationsRumours circulated in the media suggesting he was sent home early due to an over-the-top lifestyle or losing focus during his recovery.Shaw firmly dismissed these claims as unfounded rumours, reiterating that his return was strictly due to the slow and intensive rehabilitation needed for his ankle.5) Kuldeep Yadav amid India’s T20 series in Australia (2025)Premier Indian spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, was released from India’s T20I squad in Australia in November 2025 so he could return to India and play red-ball cricket for India A in preparation for a Test series against South Africa.He was added to the India A squad for the second four-day match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru starting November 6, 2025, against South Africa A.Out of favour, Kuldeep played only one ODI and the first 2 T20Is during the white-ball tour. He missed the third T20I as Washington Sundar took his place in the team.Also read: Krunal Pandya's Record For India Vs RCB Compared Amid T20I Return Talks