Virat Kohli Ravi Shastri Duncan Fletcher (Source: AFP)
In an unusual move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, August 31, 2026, decided to release head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul amid the ongoing 3-match Test series in England.
The sweeping changes came after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests at Leeds and Lord’s. The third and final Test is scheduled to begin on September 9.
Moreover, Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson will take the charge of the team ahead of the Edgbaston Test, assisted by Ashley Noffke. However, this is not the first instance of a touring team experiencing such a massive shake-up in England.
In 2011, after a debacle Test defeat in England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had to review and take a drastic step against the team management, including the head coach.
When India cricket experienced a sudden leadership overlap with Duncan Fletcher in the centre
The former England coach and Zimbabwe captain, Duncan Fletcher, was appointed India’s head coach on Apr 27, 2011, succeeding Gary Kirsten.
Duncan Fletcher’s India head coach tenure saw a stark contrast between a dominant limited-overs run and a severe slump in away Test matches.
However, he got off to a horror start, guiding the Test side to successive 4-0 series defeats in England and Australia.
Under him, India won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, reached the final of the 2014 ICC World T20, and the semi-finals of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
He handled the transition phase following the retirements of senior legends like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Sachin Tendulkar.
BCCI forced to appoint Shastri to oversee Head Coach Duncan Fletcher's performance
Fletcher’s downfall began when India lost the five-match Test series 3-1 at the hands of England in England. The then-Indian head coach received heavy criticism for the team’s performance.
As a result, the BCCI were forced to take a never-before-seen step.
The apex body of cricket in India appointed Ravi Shastri as Team Director to oversee the squad’s cricket affairs, effectively curtailing the direct authority of Duncan Fletcher as the head coach.
Also read: Mike Hesson's Coaching Record In Test Cricket As Pakistan Offers Looms
Along with that, assistant bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney were "given a break" and replaced by Indian coaches Sanjay Bangar, Bharath Arun, and R Sridhar.
Although Duncan Fletcher retained his title as head coach through the short term, his operational control was reduced before his tenure eventually ended after the 2015 World Cup.
On June 2, 2015, the then BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur confirmed Shastri’s extension as Team Director for the 2015 tour of Bangladesh.
Yet, after Duncan’s tenure as India head coach officially ended, Anil Kumble was appointed as his successor. Finally, Shastri was given the Indian Cricket Team’s coaching responsibility in 2017.
Ravi Shastri: BCCI’s very own ‘Damage Controller’
Ravi Shastri has been one of Indian cricket's crucial decision-makers in the 2010-2020 decade. As an administrator, Shastri has been instrumental in keeping Indian cricket steadfast in the right direction.
Whenever Indian cricket faced a massive setback or an on-field collapse, the BCCI made Shastri their first point of contact.
Apart from the 2014 England Test Debacle, Shastri was asked to fly as the interim Team Manager after India’s shocking first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and Greg Chappell's turbulent exit. The Indian veteran was required to stabilise a fragmented dressing room before the tour of Bangladesh.
Moreover, following the highly publicised fallout between captain Virat Kohli and head coach Anil Kumble after the 2017 Champions Trophy, the BCCI brought back Shastri as the Head Coach to re-establish chemistry and steady the ship.
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