‘Laughing stock’: Pakistan bombshell as SEVEN players – and coach – brutally axed mid-tour
The Pakistan Cricket Board has dismissed seven players and the head coach following a poor performance in the Test series against England. New staff members have been appointed to lead the team for the remainder of the tour.
Why it matters
Reflects the high-stakes nature of international cricket and the accountability measures taken by national sports boards after significant losses.
CRICKET COUNTRIES PAKISTAN ‘Laughing stock’: Pakistan bombshell as SEVEN players – and coach – brutally axed mid-tour Broad tears into Ul-Haq at Lords | 00:26 Tim Miller with AFP from Afp September 1st, 2026 9:38 am Pakistan have replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and pace-bowling chief Umar Gul, and sent seven players home, in a dramatic response to successive Test thrashings by England.
The tourists suffered an innings and 103-run loss in the series opener at Headingley before going down by 194 runs at Lord’s on Sunday as England took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match campaign.
The team has been labelled one of Pakistan’s worst and the Pakistan Cricket Board has taken drastic action ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston starting on September 9.
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