LONDON: Pakistan’s cricket crisis has taken another dramatic turn after former head coach Mickey Arthur criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), arguing that constant changes to players, coaches and selectors have contributed heavily to the team’s struggles.
The criticism comes after Pakistan suffered back-to-back defeats against England in the ongoing Test series, leaving the team under intense pressure ahead of the third match.
Following the disappointing results, the PCB made sweeping changes to both the playing squad and coaching setup.
Seven players were sent back to Pakistan before the third Test. Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad, all of whom had featured during the series, were among those withdrawn. Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Owais Zafar were also released despite not appearing in a match.
The coaching staff was also reshuffled. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were removed from their positions, while white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke were handed responsibility for the remainder of the series.
Pakistan’s results have added urgency to the changes. The team suffered a heavy innings-and-103-run defeat in the first Test, before England won the second match by 194 runs.
Arthur, who previously served as Pakistan’s head coach, questioned the strategy of repeatedly changing personnel.
According to the former coach, constant turnover among players, coaches and selectors makes it difficult to build a successful team. He stressed that consistency, long-term planning and a strong cricket structure are essential for sustained success.
The PCB’s latest decisions have also attracted attention beyond Pakistan. Former England Test batter Kevin Pietersen and Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle reportedly expressed surprise at the scale of the changes during the series.
The upheaval has once again raised questions about Pakistan’s approach to team management and whether frequent personnel changes are helping or hurting the national side.
With the third Test approaching, the revamped setup now faces a major challenge: stopping the losing streak while restoring confidence in a team already under intense scrutiny.
For Pakistan, the immediate task is clear — turn a turbulent period into a fresh start. Whether another round of changes can deliver that turnaround remains the big question.
