A Pakistani player skips the King Charles match after testing the team ahead of England’s third Test
A Pakistani player has reportedly refused to attend a team meeting with King Charles III at Clarence House, despite being instructed to join the royal engagement ahead of the third Test against England. The player was among seven cricketers left out of the Test squad after Pakistan’s heavy defeat at Lord’s.
According to a report in The Telegraph, the entire Pakistani tour group, including the seven players who were dropped from the squad, have been asked to attend the meeting. Mohammad Owais Zafar, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shehzad and Ali Usman were present, while two other players who were excluded were reportedly reluctant to attend and another chose to stay away in protest at the Pakistan Cricket Board’s treatment of them.
The players who were excluded and did not attend the match were Imam Al-Haq, Muhammad Radwan, and Salman Ali Agha. It is worth noting that the Imam and Rizwan returned to Pakistan a day after Pakistan lost the test of God.
The players have reportedly been informed that attendance is mandatory despite the turmoil surrounding the team. The sweeping changes came after Pakistan suffered a 194-run defeat to England at Lord’s, a result that also ended their hopes of winning the series.
The meeting itself went on amicably, with King Charles speaking to the Pakistani players and officials and offering them encouragement during a difficult round. Pakistan captain Babar Azam presented the king with a signed batWhile PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also gave him a gift.
Week of unrest in Pakistan
The royal participation came amid a major shake-up in Pakistani cricket, with the PCB making sweeping changes to the Test squad following back-to-back defeats to England. Seven players and several members of the technical staff have been excluded from the tourist group, while their replacements have not yet been announced.
The changes drew criticism from several former Pakistani cricketers, while the PCB reportedly issued a show-cause notice to the selectors over the decision. The board also attracted attention after it was reportedly searching for a field coach through LinkedIn, with the move receiving mixed reactions.
Pakistan had already been caught up in controversy during the second Test at Lord’s. The players reportedly threatened not to return after lunch on the opening day if Sky Sports broadcast live Interview with the sons of former Pakistani captain and Prime Minister Imran KhanHe has been imprisoned for three years on corruption charges.
The interview was eventually broadcast, but Pakistan returned to the field before suffering another defeat. The fallout from the team’s poor results then led to further changes, including the departure of coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, with New Zealander Mike Hesson brought in to take charge for the rest of the series.
With England already clinching the series, Pakistan will now turn their attention to the third Test at Edgbaston, where they will look to end a difficult campaign on a positive note.
– It ends
