San Francisco Frontiers - Pakistan roll the dice in search of consolation win over England

Mammoth defeats in the opening two encounters mean Pakistan have already lost the three-match series in emphatic fashion.

But their response to a 194-run loss in the second Test at Lord's -- which followed an innings reverse in the series opener at Headingley -- surprised even longstanding observers of Pakistan's often volatile cricket scene.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the extraordinary step of sending seven players home and calling up another seven, five of whom are uncapped at Test level.

At the same time, the PCB also sacked Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling chief Umar Gul, replacing them with Pakistan white-ball counterparts Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.

Salman Ali Agha -- Pakistan's captain at Headingley when Babar Azam was injured -- and left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who took a five-wicket haul in that match, were among those told to leave.

So too were experienced wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq, who did not bat in either innings at Lord's because of a calf injury.

No wonder Hesson said last week: "The guys are probably more used to a little bit of chaos than I am. I don't think anyone wants this to happen in the middle of a series."

Hesson, a former head coach of his native New Zealand, added: "From my perspective, it is about putting a balanced squad together, not only for this Test, so we actually have some variety in our attack.

"Pakistan is known for the pace, unusual actions, mystery spin –- we haven't really been able to present any of that."

- 'Backfires' -

Azhar Ali, a member of the Pakistan side that topped the Test world rankings a decade ago, said much of the blame for the current debacle rests with Aaqib Javed, the PCB's high performance director since 2024.

"Every decision he makes backfires and he then says: 'It's not me'", former Pakistan captain Ali told the Guardian, with Jason Gillespie, an ex-Pakistan coach, saying Javed needed to "look at himself in the mirror".

The PCB subsequently announced Monday an investigation into the squad's conduct in England.

Of more immediate concern, however, to the incoming Pakistan players is with no tour games between the second and third Tests they will have little chance to acclimatise to conditions.

England captain Joe Root, second in Test cricket's list of all-time run-scorers, said after Lord's that a combination of seam-friendly pitches, overcast skies and responsive cricket balls had created a "perfect storm" for batsmen on both sides.

But it is Pakistan, yet to reach 200 in any of their four innings this series, who have really struggled against England's revamped pace quartet of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.

The challenge for England, is to maintain the professionalism -- a sharp contrast to the extravagances at the end of the Bazball era -- that has carried them to a first Test series win in over a year by rounding off returning skipper Root's first series back in charge with a whitewash.

The fear among Pakistan supporters is even a win in Birmingham could do more long-term harm than good by papering over the cracks in a dysfunctional set-up.

One of cricket's enduring cliches is Pakistan are a "mercurial" team.

But a side who have lost 15 of their last 20 Tests are now all too predictable, with Ali lamenting: "We've become totally consistent –- in the most negative way."

C.Williams--SFF