Pakistan sent Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq back from England due to their behaviour issues: Report
Pakistan Sent Rizwan and Imam Home: Conduct Issues
Bharatmorningnews.com – Pakistan sent Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq back to Lahore mid-series after the PCB concluded that dressing-room conduct, not just poor batting, warranted their removal from the England Test squad. Seven players and two members of the coaching staff were flown home following back-to-back defeats, but reporting now confirms that behavioural complaints played a decisive role in the decision. The episode lands in the middle of a chaotic stretch for Pakistan cricket, one already defined by coaching turnover, selection disputes, and internal power manoeuvring.
Discipline Over Performance: What the Recall Really Signalled
A straightforward form-based reshuffle would have been unremarkable after two consecutive Test losses. What made this recall different was the addition of a formal committee hearing. Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha were each required to appear before a PCB panel to explain specific incidents logged during the West Indies and England tours. That procedural step moved the matter beyond informal coaching feedback and into documented disciplinary territory, with implications for future selection and squad management.
The board’s framing was explicit: the issue was culture and discipline, not a temporary batting slump. By coupling the recall to a hearing, the PCB signalled that it intended to create a record of findings rather than simply reshuffle the playing XI.
On-Field Context Behind the Recall
Rizwan, Pakistan’s most senior Test batsman, scored just 61 runs across four innings in the series. His Lord’s innings attracted particular scrutiny for a sequence of reckless shots and what critics described as a failure to adapt to English conditions. For a player of his experience and stature, the collapse was difficult for the selectors to overlook.
Imam-ul-Haq did not face a single delivery in the Lord’s Test, citing a calf strain. The injury explanation was accepted at face value by the board, though observers questioned the timing and severity of the complaint. Agha’s situation differed: he had captained the side in the opening Test at Lord’s while Babar Azam was unavailable, only to be dropped from the playing XI for the second match before his recall ended his involvement entirely.
Coaching and Selection Turmoil
Interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson, installed after the first Test defeat to replace Sarfaraz Ahmed, requested that the remaining recalled players also be sent home. His stated rationale was tactical: he wanted to trial white-ball specialists from a separate camp. The move stripped Pakistan of its senior Test core for the Edgbaston contest, leaving a reshuffled squad to face England in the final match.
The fallout extended to the selection committee. The PCB issued a show-cause notice demanding written justification for including both Rizwan and Imam in the West Indies and England Test squads. Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq subsequently tendered his resignation from the panel, though it remained unclear whether the board had formally accepted it. Senior selector Aaqib Javed was also reportedly slated for removal as part of a broader restructuring overseen by Mohsin Naqvi.
The board’s preferred path forward is to convert Hesson’s interim appointment into a permanent head-coach role, contingent on his own willingness to commit long-term. If he declines, the board would need to appoint a replacement before the home series against Sri Lanka in November, compressing the decision window considerably.
“If he doesn’t agree, then the board will appoint someone else before the next home series against Sri Lanka in November.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq recalled from England? The PCB cited both poor Test performance and documented conduct issues during the West Indies and England tours. A formal committee hearing was convened to address the behavioural complaints specifically.
Will the recalled players face further sanctions? The committee hearing is the first formal step. Outcomes could range from written warnings to exclusion from future squads, depending on the findings documented by the panel.
Who will coach Pakistan for the remaining Test and beyond? Mike Hesson holds the role on an interim basis. The board intends to make the appointment permanent if Hesson agrees; otherwise a new head coach must be named before the November Sri Lanka series.
What happened to the selection committee? A show-cause notice was issued to all selectors. Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the panel, and Aaqib Javed faces removal under a restructuring led by Mohsin Naqvi.