Pakistan cricket plunged into further trouble a day after its cricket board recalled seven players home midway through the Test series in England.

White-ball coach Mike Hesson was asked to take charge of the Test team, virtually ending head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul’s reign.

Chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq on Tuesday offered to step down after the Pakistan Cricket Board made sweeping changes to the Test squad. His resignation hasn’t been accepted though.

The PCB also issued show-cause notices to the members of the selection committee, virtually challenging the inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan.

The selection committee, compris­ing Aaqib Javed, Misbah, Sarfaraz and Asad Shafiq, has been given 24 hours to respond.

The one-page show-cause notice, issued by PCB’s chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed, says: “As advised by competent authority, you are hereby requested to provide explanation regarding the basis and rationale for the selection of the two players, including relevant selection criteria, performance considerations and any other factors taken into account during the selection process”.

The selectors have been asked to treat the notice “as urgent and of utmost importance”.

Misbah, a former Pakistan captain who has worked in various capacities in the PCB since late 2019, was reportedly unhappy with the notice as well as the board’s decision to make changes to the touring squad without consulting or informing him.

Former head coach Mickey Arthur described the decision to recall players as ridiculous.

“Absolutely ridiculous decision by the PCB. This is the reason they are in the mess they are because they constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors and there is no stability! Planning, stability and structure lead to consistent performance,” Arthur wrote on social media.

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad said he felt sorry for the players sent back home.

“For the players sent back it is now a mental scar for them and a blot on their career while the players who are replacements will be under so much mental pressure in the one Test remaining in the series,” Miandad said on Tuesday.

He said he had witnessed some turbulent times in his career in Pakistan cricket, including players’ revolts, fixing allegations and bad defeats, but never had any board reacted in such a manner.

Former captains Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik have also been critical.

“The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan. Phrases like “sent on the first flight back” are disrespectful,” Malik wrote on social media.

Afridi said Sarfaraz did not deserve such a harsh decision. “How can you judge anyone after just five matches in charge? The amazing part is the selectors have sent T20 players for a Test match to England,” he added.

Source: telegraphindia