Senior selector Aaqib Javed has put the blame on team management for Pakistan's poor show in England.
Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Khan sarcastically suggested the PCB to appoint senior selector Aaqib Javed as Pakistan’s non-playing captain for all formats.
Rashid’s suggestion came after Aaqib blamed captain Babar Azam and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed for Pakistan's poor performance in England, stating that on-field execution and playing XIs were up to the team management.
Pakistan suffered an innings and 103-run defeat in the first Test at Headingley and went on to lose the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs, thereby conceding an unassailable 2-0 lead to England in the three-match series.
Following the debacle, the PCB announced a sweeping mid-tour overhaul of its Test squad and coaching staff. The board released seven players from the touring party, including Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.
Seven new players were also called up ahead of the third Test, including five uncapped talents. The list features Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah.
The PCB also took the unprecedented step of sacking its coaching staff. Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were relieved of their duties, with white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke asked to take over the backroom responsibilities for the rest of the England tour.
“Since Aaqib apparently knows more about Pakistan cricket I see no reason why he can’t be a non-playing captain," Rashid said on a podcast on hamariweb.com website.
Aaqib had justified PCB’s decision to make wholesale changes in the Test squad by laying the blame on the team management.
Rashid, who represented Pakistan in four Tests and 29 ODIs during the 1980s, mocked Aaqib by saying that since the latter seems to know everything about the team, he might as well be named non-playing captain.
“He gives the impression he knows everything and now that he is openly even interfering in the working of the head coach and captain, just give him total control of the team," Rashid stated.
“Aaqib is now criticizing the team management and he has interfered in team affairs before also so why not just make him permanent non-playing captain like they have in tennis. At least then he wouldn’t be able to blame anyone for the poor performances," he added.
Rashid Khan criticized the mid-tour changes and questioned PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi over player morale.
“Does the PCB chairman believe these actions will raise the morale of the players," he questioned.
Pakistan will look to salvage some pride in the third and final Test against England, slated to begin on September 9 at Edgbaston.
(With PTI Inputs)