{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Mike Hesson distances himself from Pakistan's decision to drop Rizwan, Salman Agha and Imam-ul-Haq from Test squad",
  "summary": "The Pakistan Cricket Board dropped seven players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha and Imam-ul-Haq, after two heavy Test defeats to England, and interim head coach Mike Hesson has now said he had nothing to do with that decision.",
  "content": "Pakistan's interim Test head coach Mike Hesson has finally spoken up amid the ongoing turmoil in Pakistan cricket, making clear that he had no hand in the decision to drop senior players from the Test squad. Speaking on Friday, Hesson said the call to leave out experienced campaigners Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha and Imam-ul-Haq had already been made before he even stepped into the role.\n\nMass shake-up followed back-to-back defeats to England\nThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) moved to overhaul the squad after the team suffered heavy defeats in the opening two Tests of the ongoing series against England. Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings, then went down by 194 runs in the second. Following those two defeats, the board dropped seven players from the squad and sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed. In the middle of that upheaval, Hesson, who serves as head coach of Pakistan's limited-overs side, was asked to take charge of the Test team for the third and final match of the series, starting September 9 in Birmingham.\n\n\"That decision was made before I arrived\": Hesson\nAddressing the controversy at a media conference in Birmingham, Hesson said, \"By the time I was handed responsibility for the final Test, Rizwan, Agha and Imam had already been dropped from the squad.\" He added that he did not have full visibility into how those calls were made, since he was not with the Test setup at the time. Hesson explained that a limited-overs camp was already underway in Lahore, and he himself had just returned from Japan, host of the upcoming Asian Games, when he was asked to take over management of the Test side.\n\nHesson wants a more balanced bowling attack\nNow that he has taken over, Hesson made clear his focus is on restoring balance to the side. He explained that he has decided to make a few changes to the squad and wants a bowling attack built around variety, including a few allrounders. The remarks suggest Hesson is willing to keep experimenting with the team combination regardless of how contentious the recent shake-up has been. Attention now turns to what playing eleven he fields for the third Test starting September 9, and whether this reshuffled Pakistan side can salvage some pride against England.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis entire episode directly affects cricket fans following the ongoing Test series between Pakistan and England.\n\n• Squad changes: With senior players like Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha and Imam-ul-Haq missing, Pakistan's batting lineup will look markedly different. Viewers can expect newer, younger faces in the third Test starting September 9 in Birmingham.\n• Coaching reshuffle: Following Sarfaraz Ahmed's sacking, Mike Hesson is temporarily in charge of the Test side. This could keep uncertainty around team management alive through the rest of the series and beyond.\n• Bowling combination: Hesson has said he wants variety and allrounders in the attack, meaning fans could see more than one change to the playing eleven for the third Test.\n• Series outcome: Pakistan already trail the series 0-2, making the third Test a fight to salvage some credibility.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Which players were dropped from Pakistan's Test squad?\nA total of seven players were dropped, including Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha and Imam-ul-Haq.\n\n2. Why was this decision taken?\nThe PCB made the move after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests against England.\n\n3. Who was appointed head coach?\nAfter Sarfaraz Ahmed was sacked, limited-overs coach Mike Hesson was made head coach for the third Test.\n\n4. What did Mike Hesson say about the controversy?\nHesson said the three senior players had already been dropped before he was given responsibility, and he doesn't have full knowledge of what actually happened.\n\n5. When and where is the third Test being played?\nThe third and final Test starts on September 9 in Birmingham.\n\n6. How did Pakistan lose the first two Tests?\nPakistan lost the first Test by an innings and the second Test by 194 runs.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/rizwan-salman-agha-aura-imam-ko-bahara-karane-ke-phaisale-para-mike-hesson-ne-di-saphai-kaha-mujhe-kuchha-pata-nahin-27960",
  "category": "Cricket",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-05",
  "tags": [
    "Pakistan cricket",
    "Mike Hesson",
    "Mohammad Rizwan",
    "Salman Agha",
    "Imam-ul-Haq",
    "Pakistan vs England Test"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}