‘Babar Azam the next target?’: Ex-Pakistan captain launches scathing attack on PCB over England Test chaos

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing renewed criticism over its handling of the senior men's national team, with former captain Rashid Latif accusing the board of effectively running the side through “remote control” and questioning why coaches and captains are not being given greater authority.The latest criticism comes after the PCB made an unprecedented mid-series overhaul, sending seven players and two coaches back to Pakistan following defeats in the first two Tests against England.The sweeping changes have added to the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan's Test set-up, with several former players and prominent voices in the game questioning the timing and scale of the PCB's decision.Rashid Latif questions PCB's handling of coachesPakistan had already been under considerable pressure after losing the opening two Tests against England. However, rather than retaining the same group for the remainder of the series, the PCB opted for a major reshuffle.Among those sent home were senior players Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha. Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was also removed from the set-up, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson taking charge for the third and final Test in Birmingham.Latif has now questioned why Sarfaraz and bowling coach Umar Gul were sent to the UK in the first place if the PCB intended to exercise such a high degree of control over the team.Taking to X, the former Pakistan captain also referred to the departures of Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, both of whom previously stepped down after disagreements over the level of authority and freedom available to them.Latif also brought captain Babar Azam into the discussion, suggesting that if the captain was not following the team's preferred direction, the PCB should have removed him rather than sending coaches back home."If the team had to be run by remote control, then why were Sarfaraz and Umar Gul sent? Why were the selection powers taken away from Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie? And if captain Babar Azam wasn’t listening, the captain should have been sacked — so why were Sarfaraz and Umar Gul sent back instead? Is Babar Azam the next target?” Latif wrote on X.PCB faces backlash over seven-player overhaulThe PCB's decision to make such sweeping changes in the middle of a Test series has attracted criticism from several high-profile figures in Pakistan cricket.Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Ramiz Raja, Basit Ali and Shahid Afridi have all questioned the move, with the critics arguing that such drastic changes could create even more instability within an already struggling Pakistan side.The PCB, however, has defended its decision.Chairman Mohsin Naqvi previously backed the overhaul, insisting that the board had taken the harsh step because it believed it was necessary for the betterment of the team.Pakistan's Test struggles continueThe dramatic changes come against the backdrop of Pakistan's prolonged struggles in the longest format.Pakistan are currently at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and have never been genuine contenders for a place in the WTC final during the current cycle.The latest campaign will also mark the fourth consecutive WTC cycle in which Pakistan finish in the bottom half of the standings, highlighting the extent of their problems in Test cricket.The defeat in England has only intensified the scrutiny surrounding the team's direction and the PCB's decision-making process.Another captaincy change under scrutinyPakistan's Test leadership has also undergone another change this year.Earlier in 2026, the PCB replaced Shan Masood with Babar Azam as Test captain after Bangladesh completed a 2-0 series victory over Pakistan.Babar's return to the leadership role initially brought some stability, with Pakistan drawing their two-Test series against the West Indies.However, the team's fortunes quickly deteriorated once the side arrived in England. After losing the opening two Tests, the PCB responded with a drastic squad overhaul, sending seven players and two members of the coaching staff home.That decision has now prompted fresh questions over who is actually making the key decisions within Pakistan cricket, with Latif's comments adding another layer to the growing controversy surrounding the board's handling of the national team.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.