Former Pakistan pacer slams Misbah-ul-Haq-led PCB selection committee after Headingley defeat

Former Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed has publicly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board selection committee, led by Misbah-ul-Haq, following Pakistan's heavy defeat in the first Test against England at Headingley. England completed victory by an innings and 103 runs before tea on day three, wrapping up the match in emphatic fashion.

England had posted 409 in their first innings, adding 43 runs to their overnight total of 366 for 8. That gave them a 238-run lead over Pakistan's first-innings score of 171. In their second innings, Pakistan were dismissed for 135 in 37.3 overs, offering little resistance throughout.

Mohammad Rizwan was the top scorer in Pakistan's second innings with 41, while Imam-ul-Haq could not trouble the scorers, falling for a duck at the top of the order. Josh Tongue, Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer each claimed three wickets in that innings, with Archer returning figures of 3 for 50. Robinson and Tongue both finished with eight wickets for the game, adding to their five-wicket hauls in the first innings.

Ahmed directed pointed criticism at the composition of the PCB selection committee in the aftermath of the defeat. He highlighted the presence of three batsmen and just one fast bowler on the panel, arguing that this imbalance was visible both in Pakistan's batting struggles and in the pitches prepared for home matches. The committee comprises of Misbah, Aqib Javed, Asad Shafiq and coach Sarfaraz Ahmed.

"Three batsmen on the selection committee, and your batsmen, the middle order, have failed. So what should I say, that they understand cricket very well Three batsmen on the selection committee, yet your batting is failing. And there's one fast bowler on the selection committee who is ruining the cricket of fast bowlers by making turning pitches for spinners inside Pakistan. So this is your selection committee. From the mindset they have and what they are doing, you can easily get an idea of where your cricket is heading," Ahmed said on PTV Sports.

The remarks arrive at a difficult moment for Pakistan in the longest format. The side has managed only five Test victories since 2023, and four of those came on home soil, underlining how rarely they have succeeded away from familiar conditions.

Pakistan must regroup quickly, with the second Test of the three-match series scheduled to begin on Thursday at Lord's. England lead the series 1-0 after Joe Root oversaw a dominant win in his first match back as the side's full-time Test captain.

Salman Agha led Pakistan at Headingley in a stand-in capacity, with Babar Azam sidelined by a finger injury. Whether Babar will be fit to return for Lord's has not been confirmed, leaving the captaincy situation uncertain ahead of the second match.

The selection debate is certain to sharpen before Lord's. Pakistan's batters managed combined totals of 171 and 135 across both innings at Headingley, and with two Tests still to play, the pressure on the selection committee and the squad to respond is considerable.