Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq Set to Return Home as Pakistan Cricket Crisis Deepens After Lord’s Defeat

Pakistan’s crisis in test cricket continues to worsen as it takes another turn with wicketkeeper and opening batter, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq are likely to be sent home from the ongoing England tour after the team suffered heavy losses in back-to-back tests.

Pakistan were beaten comprehensively in the first two tests. They lost the opener by an innings and 103 runs at Leeds and then suffered another humiliating defeat by 194 runs at the home of cricket, the Lord’s. With these losses, Pakistan now languish at the bottom of the WTC rankings and the team and the management is now facing intensified scrutiny.

According to a report from Geo New, the Pakistan management has decided to send Imam and Rizwan back home. The Pakistan media that is touring in England has also reported after the Lord’s defeat a high-level meeting has taken place, which included some of Pakistan Cricket Board’s senior officials PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, COO Sumair Ahmand, PSL CEO Salman Naseer, and former player and senior selector Aaqib Javed as well as Pakistan’s ODIs coach Mike Hesson.

Imam-ul-Haq in Big Trouble

A reliable source from within PCB has reportedly told Geo News that Naqvi has conveyed his utter disappointment of the team’s performance in England as well as of the individual efforts of some of the senior players.

“The Imran Khan’s son’s interview being aired on Sky Sports during the second test has also incredibly upset the Pakistan team management and the players, but more than anything, it is the portrayal of Pakistan team in the media and their performance that has caused a major concern,” the report further quoted the source as saying.

The report also claimed that Rizwan and Imam are already on their way back home, while suggesting that Abdullah Fazal, who has also played two tests, was certain to be sent to England as a replacement. Imam did not come out to bat in the second test after suffering an injury while fielding on the first day of the day.

It is reported that during the meeting, one of the important points discussed was about the possibility of Mike Hesson taking charge of the test team. He is expected to remain with the team for the rest of England tour, potentially raising questions over the future of the current head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Everyone is worried

The latest developments come as the Pakistani cricket team continues to struggle badly in test cricket, particularly while playing away from home. Their latest defeat at Lord’s was their 10th loss in their 11 matches away from the shores of Pakistan.

The team’s pacer, Mohammad Abbas who picked up nine wickets in the Lord’s test and claimed his maiden five-wicket haul, admitted that the issues within the team are a cause of major concern. He said, “our performance is a concern for everyone. Everyone is worried, including the selection committee and the NCA. We are not doing well, we accept that. We are not batting, bowling or fielding well and we discuss this all the time in meetings. We are all working on it.”