Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector after PCB's mass Test squad overhaul
Synopsis
Pakistan's Test crisis has claimed its latest casualty — Misbah-ul-Haq, who has reportedly offered to quit as selector after the PCB released seven players and two coaches mid-series following a humiliating 194-run loss at Lord's. With England 2-0 up and five uncapped players now drafted in, Pakistan's red-ball rebuild is happening in real time, in the middle of a series they have already lost.
Key Takeaways
Misbah-ul-Haq has offered his resignation as Pakistan men's selector; the PCB is yet to formally accept it.
Seven players — including Mohammad Rizwan , Imam-ul-Haq , and Salman Agha — were released after Pakistan's 194-run defeat at Lord's .
Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Khan and bowling coach Umar Gul were also relieved of their duties.
Five uncapped players — Arafat Minhas , Mohammad Imran Jnr , Saad Baig , Mohammad Imran Randhawa , and Razaullah — have been called up.
Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke take over coaching duties for the rest of the England tour.
England hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series.
Misbah-ul-Haq has offered his resignation as a member of Pakistan's men's selection committee, according to reports, following the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s sweeping overhaul of the Test squad mid-series against England. The PCB has yet to formally accept his resignation. Misbah has also reportedly stepped down from his parallel role as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
The Trigger: A Series Already Lost
The mass changes came a day after the PCB released seven players and two members of the backroom staff following Pakistan's 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's. That result handed England an unassailable 2-0 series lead, effectively ending Pakistan's chances in the three-match series before the final game.
Among those released were Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Khan and bowling coach Umar Gul were also relieved of their duties.
Five Uncapped Players Drafted In
In a striking rebuild, the PCB drafted in five uncapped players — Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah — alongside capped returnees Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal. The move signals a significant generational shift, however abrupt, in Pakistan's red-ball thinking.
Coaching Reshuffle: Hesson and Noffke Step In
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and assistant coach Ashley Noffke will take over backroom responsibilities for the remainder of the England tour. The PCB confirmed: 'Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul have also been released and will be replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke in the backroom staff.'
Notably, the captaincy had already changed hands before this round of cuts, with Shan Masood replaced by Babar Azam as Test captain — a further indication of the scale of Pakistan's mid-series crisis.
Misbah's Long History With the PCB
Misbah retired from international cricket in 2017 and returned to the PCB fold in 2019, taking on the combined head coach and chief selector roles. He stepped back from the chief selector position in October 2020 to concentrate on coaching, then left that role the following year. In 2023, he was brought back as an advisor under then-PCB management committee chief Zaka Ashraf. He subsequently served as mentor for the men's Champions Cup in 2024-25 and coached Pakistan Gold to the 50-over National Champions Cup title.
His latest resignation — from a four-member selection panel that also includes Aaqib Javed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Asad Shafiq, formed in March this year — marks yet another turbulent chapter in his on-off relationship with the board. Whether the PCB accepts the resignation will be closely watched as Pakistan attempt to salvage pride in the third Test.
Point of View
Two coaches, and now potentially a selector while a series is still live reflects a board that reacts to results rather than managing through a plan. Misbah's exit, his latest in a recurring cycle of PCB departures and returns, underlines a deeper structural problem: Pakistan cricket has no stable selection philosophy, only emergency responses. Bringing in five uncapped players for a Test already conceded may look bold; it may equally look like panic dressed as vision.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Misbah-ul-Haq resigned as Pakistan selector?
Misbah-ul-Haq reportedly offered his resignation following the PCB's sweeping mid-series changes to the Test squad, including the release of seven players and two coaches after Pakistan's 194-run defeat at Lord's. The PCB has not yet formally accepted his resignation.
Which players were released from Pakistan's Test squad?
The PCB released Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad following the Lord's defeat. Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Khan and bowling coach Umar Gul were also let go.
Who will coach Pakistan for the remainder of the England Test series?
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and assistant coach Ashley Noffke will take over backroom duties for the rest of the tour, replacing Sarfaraz Khan and Umar Gul.
What is the current series score between England and Pakistan?
England lead the three-match Test series 2-0, with the second game won by 194 runs at Lord's. Pakistan have already conceded the series as England's lead is unassailable.
Who are the uncapped players drafted into Pakistan's Test squad?
The PCB called up five uncapped players — Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah — along with capped players Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal for the third Test.
