Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has launched a fierce attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board after a major overhaul followed the Lord’s Test defeat to England.
The PCB sent seven players home after Pakistan’s heavy loss. It also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul with one Test still left in the series.
Ajmal accused the board of making Pakistan’s problems worse. He also rejected PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s call for critics to stop demotivating the players.
“The board itself has demotivated the players more than anyone else,” Ajmal said on Samaa TV.
“The board is not letting any player stand. There are players who have done well, who are also dropped. There are players who have been humiliated by PCB.”
The 362-wicket international bowler then turned his attention to Aaqib Javed and Mike Hesson.
Aaqib serves as Pakistan’s Director High Performance and selector. Hesson works as the white-ball head coach and will take charge of the Test team for the final match against England.
“Aaqib Javed and Mike Hesson are a team. These two are controlling everything and are responsible for this whole mess. The whole issue is about egos,” Ajmal said.
He also questioned the board’s long-term planning.
“Our team have gone back 10 years. We have not planned for the future,” he added.
Pakistan lost the first two Tests against England and now face a potential series whitewash. The third Test starts at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Naqvi has defended the PCB’s decisions and rejected suggestions that personal issues influenced the changes.
“Every match of a series is important for us, and we are not left with any option if a player is not performing but to look for his replacement,” Naqvi told Geo Network.
“The purpose behind these changes is not to axe players from contention, but just to replace them.”
Naqvi also pointed to Salman Agha as an example. He said the all-rounder had struggled for form and had received a direct conversation from the board.
The changes have nevertheless intensified the pressure around Pakistan cricket.
Ajmal, who took 362 wickets for Pakistan before his career ended early because of problems with his bowling action, has repeatedly criticised the PCB.
His latest comments come as Pakistan prepare for the final Test of a troubled England tour. Hesson will oversee the Test side, while the PCB faces renewed questions over its selection policy and long-term planning.
For Pakistan, another defeat at Edgbaston would complete a series whitewash and add further pressure to an already unsettled cricket structure.
