Pakistan players push PCB to reinstate physio Cliff Deacon ahead of Australia ODIs
Synopsis
Pakistan's fast bowlers are reportedly lobbying the PCB to bring back physio Cliff Deacon, who was abruptly dropped after eight years with the side — reportedly on the orders of new sports medicine director Javed Mughal. With Gillespie, Kirsten, Tait, Morkel, and Puttick all gone before him, Deacon's exit looks less like an isolated call and more like a structural problem Pakistan cricket keeps refusing to fix.
Key Takeaways
Cliff Deacon , Pakistan's physio since 2017 , was removed from the support staff ahead of the Australia ODI series .
Javed Mughal , newly-appointed Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine, reportedly ordered Deacon's exit over recurring injury concerns.
Pakistan fast bowlers have reportedly urged the PCB to reverse the decision, defending Deacon's work.
Players argued that long-term rehabilitation — the area of concern — falls outside a physio's role and is handled at the academy.
Deacon's removal follows a series of abrupt exits including Jason Gillespie , Gary Kirsten , Morne Morkel , and Andrew Puttick — all in recent years.
According to reports, Deacon may join the Afghanistan cricket team setup.
Several Pakistan cricketers, particularly the fast bowlers, are reportedly urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reverse its decision to drop long-serving physio Cliff Deacon from the national team's support staff. The development comes ahead of Pakistan's ODI series against Australia, for which the PCB has appointed Iftikhar Ahmed as the new team physio.
Why Deacon Was Removed
The 45-year-old South African, who had been embedded with the Pakistan setup since 2017, was widely regarded as a trusted figure inside the dressing room — especially among pace bowlers managing workload and fitness through gruelling international schedules. While the PCB has offered no official explanation for the decision, sources cited in a Telecom Asia report claimed that newly-appointed Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine Javed Mughal held Deacon accountable for the team's persistent injury problems.
'Deacon was ordered to leave by Mughal, and after the second Test there was a farewell at the ground for Deacon who sobbed during the formal ceremony and hugged most of the players,' a source was quoted as saying.
Players Defend Deacon's Role
Players reportedly pushed back against that assessment, arguing that long-term rehabilitation falls outside a physio's direct remit and is handled at the academy. 'Deacon's work was great and effective but people in the Board do not understand that it is not the job of a physio to oversee rehab of unfit players, he can only manage niggles which he had been doing. Rehabs are done at the academy with all the facilities,' a player reportedly said.
A separate source added: 'Deacon was good at understanding fitness issues as he could tell from afar what fitness issues a player is having if he sees him. His work was very good and sacking him will not serve the players and the team.'
A Pattern of Instability in Pakistan's Backroom
Deacon's exit is the latest in a string of abrupt departures of foreign support staff from Pakistan cricket. Former bowling coaches Shaun Tait and Morne Morkel, as well as batting consultant Andrew Puttick, all saw their tenures cut short. High-profile coaching appointments — Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten — also ended prematurely in 2024, only months after signing contracts with the board.
Former Pakistan captain and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had previously cautioned that repeated upheaval could make it increasingly difficult for Pakistan cricket to attract experienced foreign professionals. That warning now appears prescient.
What Comes Next
According to the Telecom Asia report, Deacon — much like Puttick before him — could soon join the Afghanistan national cricket team setup. For the PCB, the immediate challenge is managing player unrest heading into a high-stakes ODI series against Australia, even as questions over the board's handling of support staff continue to mount.
Point of View
Not years; Morkel and Tait were similarly short-lived. If the PCB's new sports medicine director can override player sentiment and remove a figure trusted by the dressing room without a transparent process, it signals that institutional accountability remains weak. Ramiz Raja's warning about Pakistan's ability to attract foreign talent was not alarmist — it was a forecast, and it is coming true.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Cliff Deacon removed from the Pakistan cricket team?
Cliff Deacon was reportedly removed on the orders of newly-appointed Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine Javed Mughal, who was dissatisfied with the team's recurring injury problems and held Deacon responsible. The PCB has not issued an official explanation for the decision.
How long had Cliff Deacon worked with Pakistan cricket?
Cliff Deacon, a 45-year-old South African, had been working with the Pakistan national cricket team since 2017 — a tenure of approximately eight years. He was considered a highly respected figure in the dressing room, particularly among the pace bowlers.
Who has replaced Cliff Deacon as Pakistan's physio?
The PCB has appointed Iftikhar Ahmed as the team physio for Pakistan's upcoming ODI series against Australia, replacing Deacon in the support staff role.
How have Pakistan players responded to Deacon's removal?
Several Pakistan players, particularly fast bowlers, have reportedly urged the PCB to reconsider its decision. They defended Deacon's work and argued that long-term player rehabilitation — the area cited as a concern — is handled at the academy and does not fall under a physio's direct responsibility.
Is this part of a broader pattern of instability in Pakistan's support staff?
Yes. Deacon's exit follows a series of abrupt departures including head coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten in 2024, bowling coaches Shaun Tait and Morne Morkel, and batting consultant Andrew Puttick. Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has warned this pattern risks deterring experienced foreign professionals from joining Pakistan cricket.
