Pakistan Cricket Board initiates inquiry after recalling 7 players from tour of England

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Pakistan Cricket Board is conducting an internal “disciplinary” inquiry against unnamed players after recalling seven cricketers and two coaches midway through the tour of England.

“The PCB has initiated an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally,” its media director Amir Mir said on X Monday.

“The PCB handles such matters in accordance with its standard procedures. The process is being conducted under PCB regulations, ensuring that all concerned individuals are given due consideration.”

There was speculation in local media that the PCB had obtained data from the mobile phones of Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan before both players flew back to Pakistan.

According to Geo News, the phones of both players were taken into possession by the team’s security officer after Pakistan lost the second test by 194 runs at Lord’s. The news channel said phones were handed back to the players hours before they left UK.

“At this stage, any speculative reports or unverified claims circulating on certain platforms, particularly those originating from hostile external sources, should not be regarded as credible,” Mir said. “The Board advises stakeholders and the public to rely on official PCB communications.”

Pakistan made sweeping changes in a knee-jerk reaction to its two brutal defeats at Lord’s and Headingley in the first two tests of the three-match series. The PCB not only summoned back seven players, it also replaced test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with Mike Hesson and brought in bowling coach Ashley Noffke to take over from Umar Gul.

Noffke was unaware of any disciplinary inquiry as Pakistan prepared for the third and final test, starting in Birmingham from Wednesday.

“I sit outside of that decision-making model,” Noffke told reporters after the team’s practice session at Edgbaston.

“There’s one thing that I’ve learnt about being in Pakistan and coaching for a period of time — nearly 15 months now with the white ball team — is there’s always something going on in the background. And whether or not it’s in or out of our control, most of the time it’s out of the player’s control, they need to focus on the cricket that they have in front of them because there’s some really great opportunities here for young cricketers that are highly skilled.”

One of the four selectors Aaqib Javed and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi have defended the changes midway through the series, which have drawn criticism from the likes of former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

Wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan, opening batter Imam and Salman Ali Agha, who captained the team in the first test, were among the first batch of the seven players who left the team before Hesson had joined the squad in the UK.

Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad and left-arm spinner Ali Usman both played in the first two tests before being released while all-rounder Aamir Jamal and Mohammad Awais were sent home without getting a chance at either Lord’s or Headingley.

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