The sacked Pakistani players have been summoned to attend a meeting with King Charles amid concerns over low turnout for the match.
IMAGE: Britain’s King Charles speaks to Pakistani singer Sajid Khan as Obaid Shah and others listen during an audience at Clarence House in London, Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Photography: Stefan Rousseau – Reuters
The Pakistan Cricket Board took a fresh action on Wednesday, forcing seven sacked players to attend a meeting with King Charles at Clarence House in London.
Key points
- One unnamed player reportedly refused to attend the Clarence House meeting.
- Babar Azam presented King Charles with a signed bat during the engagement.
- Protesters gathered outside Clarence House over human rights violations in Pakistan.
Earlier this week, PCB dropped seven players – Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Owais Zafar, Khurram Shahzad – from the team, while also sacking coach Sarfaraz Khan and other support staff after back-to-back testing. Defeats against England at Lord’s and Headingley.
according to Telegraph According to the British newspaper “Daily Mail”, the expelled Pakistani players were asked to attend a meet-and-greet session with the British monarch at Clarence House “amid fears that the low turnout would embarrass the PCB.” However, one of the players, whose identity was not revealed, refused to attend the match.
Charles meets Pakistani team amid turbulent England tour
IMAGE: King Charles with the Pakistan cricket team at Clarence House on Wednesday. Photography: Stefan Rousseau – Reuters
Charles spoke to Pakistani players and officials and encouraged them during their difficult times.
Image: The cricket bat was presented to King Charles by Pakistani captain Babar Azam. Photography: Stefan Rousseau – Reuters
Charles received a bat signed by Captain Babar Azam while Mohsin Naqvi, PCB Chairman and Pakistani Interior Minister, also presented him with a gift.
Touring cricket teams are usually invited to meet a member of the Royal Family when they visit England.
IMAGE: Protesters outside Clarence House as King Charles meets Pakistani cricketers on Wednesday. Photography: Stefan Rousseau – Reuters
As the players met the king, demonstrators gathered outside Clarence House to protest human rights abuses in Pakistan.
The Test series in England was nothing short of dramatic for Pakistan on and off the field.
During the second Test at Lord’s, PCB They reportedly threatened the Pakistani players not to return after lunch on the opening day If Sky Sports broadcast an interview with the sons of the captain and former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for three years.
The interview was eventually broadcast, but Pakistan returned to the field before suffering another defeat.
