Chaos, shock and confusion: The inside story of Pakistan’s tour from hell

At about 5pm on Monday, Pakistan players began receiving messages from friends and family, asking if they knew what was going on. The players, who were wandering around London on a day off or at the team hotel, replied that they had no idea what they meant.

The players were then sent social media posts of the statement Pakistan had just released: seven players were being sent home mid-series from the three-Test tour of England and the coaching staff were sacked. It followed two heavy losses in Headingley, by an innings and 103 runs, and at Lord’s, by 194 runs. Pakistan have lost 15 of their last 20 Test matches.

Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Salman Ali Agha, who captained the team in the first Test defeat at Headingley, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar are the banished seven. Team management had not told them beforehand.

Some of the seven had not even played a Test on what has turned into Pakistan’s tour from hell. Others had performed reasonably well in the two losses. All agreed, though, that the way the shock decision had been handled left the most bitter of tastes.

The international future of many Pakistan players is up in the air with questions over their character, fitness and decision-making.

It also sums up Pakistan cricket at its worst. Bizarre decision-making, a lack of structure or professionalism and no attempt at proper communication.

If you want chaos, nobody does it quite like the Pakistan Cricket Board. Pakistan may be bottom of the World Test Championship standings but, when it comes to running a cricket team like a circus, they have an unsurmountable lead.

But, even by the PCB’s turbulent standards, the last few days have been extraordinary.

It began with whispers of possible changes within the squad and escalated into an upheaval with almost half the touring party being classed as surplus to requirements.

The scale and sheer disorder of the decisions have stunned players and bewildered supporters, leaving observers to again question how a major cricketing institution can operate in such an irrational manner.

The PCB’s frustration appears to have been simmering and the events of the series – both on and off the field – pushed the board into a reaction which blindsided the players.

Several of them contacted friends and family privately, expressing shock and confusion as to what was happening with no direct communication coming from management, captain or coach.

One player, who has played in the series and believes he has performed satisfactorily, felt he was being unfairly scapegoated. He was in his room at the team hotel in London when he also started receiving messages. A friend then forwarded the press release to him. He had to read the press release twice to believe it, initially assuming it was fake.

Not even telling the players they were being sent home was viewed as degrading by those in question.