Pakistan’s handling of Test cricket has come under sharp criticism from former England captain Nasser Hussain, who has questioned the team management’s decisions following a series of major changes to the squad.
Hussain’s comments came after Pakistan batter Saim Ayub struggled in the Edgbaston Test, scoring ducks in both innings. Ayub had been playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) shortly before receiving a late call-up to Pakistan’s Test squad. His sudden transition from franchise T20 cricket to the longest format has raised concerns over whether he had adequate preparation for the demands of Test cricket in English conditions.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hussain placed much of the responsibility for Ayub’s failure on Pakistan’s selectors and management. He argued that the decision to bring a player into the Test side without recent first-class experience was difficult to justify.
Hussain pointed out that Ayub had not played a first-class match for 11 months and had been involved in the CPL only 10 days before being brought into the Test set-up. The former England captain questioned how a batter could be expected to move so quickly from overseas T20 cricket into a Test match in England, where the conditions and demands are markedly different.
The use of the Dukes ball was another factor highlighted by Hussain. English Test cricket is closely associated with the Dukes ball, which can offer movement in the air and off the pitch, particularly under favourable conditions. For batters arriving directly from a T20 competition, adjusting to the pace, movement and patience required in Test cricket can be a significant challenge.
Hussain described Ayub’s situation as an example of what he sees as a broader lack of planning within Pakistan’s Test set-up. In his assessment, the issue was not simply that Ayub failed to score runs, but that the circumstances in which he was selected left the player facing a demanding challenge without sufficient preparation.
Pakistan’s problems have also extended beyond individual selection decisions. Following the Lord’s Test, seven players were removed from the squad and sent home. Seven replacements were subsequently brought into the team, with five of them awaiting their Test debuts. The coaching staff was also changed, with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul dismissed.
Despite the sweeping changes, Pakistan continued to struggle in the final Test at Edgbaston and were facing the prospect of an innings defeat. For Hussain, the sequence of changes reflects a deeper problem within the team rather than a single poor result.
He also criticised the decision to make significant personnel changes in the middle of a Test series. According to Hussain, sending seven players home while the series was still in progress could damage the sense of trust and unity required inside a dressing room.
The former England captain also referred to the omission of a bowler who had taken five wickets in the previous match. Such decisions, he suggested, can leave players uncertain about their positions and make them more concerned about protecting their own places than contributing to the team.
Hussain believes that a Test side needs stability, trust and a clear sense of collective purpose. When players see teammates, including room-mates, being removed from the squad during a series, he argued, it can weaken the team’s basic values.
His criticism therefore goes beyond Saim Ayub’s two failures with the bat. Hussain’s central concern is the way Pakistan are preparing, selecting and managing players for Test cricket. In his view, moving players abruptly between formats, particularly without recent first-class cricket, and making major squad changes during a series can undermine the foundations needed to build a competitive Test team.
For Pakistan, the immediate challenge is to restore consistency both on and off the field. The Edgbaston Test has once again exposed concerns over preparation, selection and team stability, leaving the management under renewed scrutiny over its approach to the longest format of the game.
