LAHORE: Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq returned to Lahore on Tuesday after being axed from the national squad midway through the team’s Test tour of England following a poor run of results.
Imam arrived at Allama Iqbal International Airport wearing a face mask. He left the airport quietly and headed home.
Mohammad Rizwan was scheduled to take the same flight to Peshawar, according to reports.
Salman Ali Agha and Ali Usman have also reportedly left the team hotel. They travelled to another city to stay with relatives.
The changes came after Pakistan made a major overhaul of its squad and coaching staff during the England tour.
The Pakistan Cricket Board dropped seven players from the squad as part of the mid-tour changes. Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad had featured in the series, while Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Owais Jafar were sent home without playing a match.
The PCB also made changes to the coaching staff including head coach and bowling coach after Pakistan’s poor performances in the Test series.
The changes have drawn criticism from former Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur and ex-captains Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik. Some of critics strongly reacted to the changes particularly in the coaching staff despite comparatively good performance in bowling department against England.
Arthur criticised the PCB for repeatedly changing players, coaches and selectors. He said Pakistan needed planning, stability and a proper structure to achieve consistent performances.
Afridi questioned the reasoning behind the changes and asked why the coach had been removed after only five Test matches.
Malik also criticised the reported treatment of players who were dropped during the tour. He said accountability should take place after a tour rather than during a series.
Pakistan’s squad will now prepare for the Birmingham Test, with Arafat Minhas expected to join the team.
The mid-tour shake-up has intensified debate over Pakistan’s team selection, coaching structure and long-term planning.
