Pakistan’s troubled tour of England has taken another dramatic turn, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confiscating and examining the phones of two unnamed players as part of an internal investigation into “discipline and conduct”.
The inquiry comes with Pakistan 2-0 down in the three-Test series and preparing for a significantly reshuffled side for Wednesday’s third Test at Edgbaston.
The PCB has already taken sweeping action following defeats at Lord’s and Headingley. Seven players have been sent home, while the coaching structure has also been overhauled.
New Zealand’s Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s white-ball coach, has been brought in to lead the Test side following the removal of Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmad. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha and spinner Ali Usman, who claimed five wickets at Headingley, are among those sent back to Pakistan.
The replacements have left Pakistan with a largely inexperienced squad, with only two of the players called up possessing Test experience.
The latest development centres on two unnamed players whose mobile phones have been taken by the PCB. It remains unclear what information the board was seeking or what prompted the decision.
Amir Mir, the PCB’s head of communications, confirmed that an internal disciplinary process was under way.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has initiated an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally,” Mir said.
He added that the inquiry was being conducted according to PCB regulations and urged caution over unverified reports circulating on social media and other platforms.
The upheaval has also seen criticism directed at Imam-ul-Haq, who was among the players sent home.
Aaqib Javed, Pakistan’s director of high performance, publicly questioned Imam’s decision not to bat after suffering a muscle injury during the Lord’s Test.
“The Imam injury is a big question mark, and a deep disappointment,” Javed told Geo News, while making clear that he could not say the batter had faked the injury.
The comments have added another layer to an already turbulent tour.
Pakistan’s newly appointed bowling coach Ashley Noffke admitted that he had little knowledge of the decisions behind the dramatic squad changes.
“I just got a message at 3am one morning last week saying management were sending me over to England. That’s all I know,” Noffke said.
He acknowledged that the constant changes were unsettling but insisted the players and coaches had to concentrate on the cricket ahead.
The turmoil has not been confined to Pakistan’s cricketing operations.
The PCB also threatened to withdraw from the Lord’s Test, and potentially the entire England tour, over plans by Sky Sports to broadcast an interview with the sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan.
The interview, which was critical of the Pakistani government, was broadcast by Sky on the opening day of the Lord’s Test. Despite the threat, Pakistan’s players subsequently took to the field and continued with the match.
The situation has placed Pakistan cricket under intense scrutiny ahead of the Edgbaston Test.
With a heavily changed squad, a revamped coaching structure and an ongoing disciplinary inquiry, Pakistan face the difficult task of attempting to prevent a 3-0 series defeat while trying to restore some stability to a tour that has become increasingly chaotic.
The focus now shifts to Edgbaston, where the reshaped Pakistan side will attempt to end the turmoil on the field.
