Babar Azam said Pakistan's sweeping squad changes came as a surprise, defended the team's selection decisions, urged a fearless approach at Edgbaston, while the PCB launched disciplinary inquiry.
Babar Azam's fever adds to Pakistan's mounting troubles before the Edgbaston Test, with the PCB overhauling the squad and coaching staff after England secured an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has come under fire from former players after sacking head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, and sending back seven players, including national T20 captain Salman Ali Agha, in the middle of their Test series against England. The drastic changes followed Pakistan's heavy defeats in the first two Tests, prompting widespread condemnation for the timing and impact on team morale and stability.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly undertaking a major "clean-up" operation, which could see senior selector Aaqib Javed removed and a new selection committee formed. This follows the controversial return of players Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha from England, with concerns raised over their form and behaviour. The PCB is also reviewing coaching staff and player conduct.
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is set to play his first domestic first-class match since 2019, a move that follows the Pakistan Cricket Board's controversial decision to send back seven players and sack coaches after the recent Test tour of England.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has strongly criticised current skipper Babar Azam following Pakistan's disastrous Test series against England. Akram questioned Babar's awareness of team changes and suggested he should not have taken on the captaincy again, especially after the team's poor performance and subsequent sanctions.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam is expected to return for the second Test against England at Lord's after recovering from a finger injury. His potential comeback offers a significant boost to the team, which suffered a heavy defeat in the first Test, as England leads the three-match series 1-0.
Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie has strongly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its constant upheaval, including the 'disrespectful' sacking of players and frequent changes in coaching staff, which he believes creates instability and fear among players.
Former Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has criticised the differential treatment of foreign and local coaches in Pakistan cricket, stating that foreign coaches enjoy more authority and less scrutiny. He also highlighted the need for consistency, patience, and long-term planning, drawing comparisons with India's successful cricket development model.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from the men's national selection committee and as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy.
Joe Root's unbeaten 62 guided England to a dominant eight-wicket victory in the third Test against Pakistan, securing a 3-0 series whitewash despite early batting jitters. This marks England's first series win in 19 months.
Pakistan were bowled out for 133 as England's bowlers tore through their batting lineup in the third Test at Edgbaston.
Pakistan's cricket board has appointed former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as the head coach of their Test team for the upcoming two-match series in Bangladesh, succeeding Jason Gillespie.
Former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul terms Hardik Pandya India's biggest threat ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo but tips Pakistan to edge the high-pressure contest.
Mushfiqur Rahim struck a record-breaking century as Bangladesh tightened their grip on the second Test against Pakistan in Sylhet on Monday by setting the hosts a huge target of 437 runs. Pakistan's bowling coach Umar Gul remains confident that his team can chase down the target.
Former Pakistan bowlers, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal have been appointed as the fast bowling and spin bowling coaches of the national squad for the upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Experienced pace bowler Umar Gul has been recalled to Pakistan's squad for the limited over series against New Zealand after struggling with a knee problem since last year.
The Pakistan fast bowler has a problem with his rib cartilage and been advised at least two weeks' rest by doctors, which means he will miss the rest of the Asia Cup.
With speedster Shoaib Akhtar's chances of playing in the Indian Premier League looking dim, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly is banking on another Pakistani pacer, Umar Gul, to deliver the goods in the tournament beginning on April 18. "Umar Gul is in our team. He will serve us well," Ganguly told newspersons in Kolkata when asked about the Rawalpindi Express' absence from his side.
Pakistani seamer Umar Gul is being sent home after he aggravated a back injury while bowling at the nets.
From 47 Test matches, Gul took 163 wickets at an average of 34.06.
The fast bowler's brother, Meraj, was arrested with two other men on charges of providing shelter to his uncle, Haji Daly, believed to be an active member of the banned Lashkar-e-Islam
Pakistan pace bowler Umar Gul has been ruled out for at least the next six months following the diagnosis of three stress fractures in his back, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Thursday.
The Pakistan team management decided to rest pacer Umar Gul, who suffered a back injury, as a "precautionary measure" after he underwent a scan during the day.
Pakistan won the third ODI to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead against Bangladesh.
Umar Gul emerged the unlikely batting hero as Pakistan came back from the dead to pull off a nerve-wracking two-wicket victory over South Africa in their opening Super Eights match of the ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo on Friday. Chasing a target of 134, on a difficult Premadasa strip, Gul produced a blistering 17-ball 32 while Umar Akmal scored an unbeaten 43 to guide the team to a thrilling victory with two balls to spare.
Pakistan pacer Umar Gul failed to impress the national selectors in his comeback bid.
Cricket has never been the same since India's thrilling, last-over win over Pakistan in the final at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on September 24, 2007.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf denied any groupings in the dressing room.
22 images that captures glimpses of a most unusual Indian who led the nation for 10 years.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to appoint Muhammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq as interim head coach and assistant coach respectively for the home T20 series against New Zealand later this month.
Afghanistan have appointed former Pakistan players Younis Khan and Umar Gul as batting and bowling consultants respectively for their training camp in the United Arab Emirates, the country's cricket board said.
Javed Miandad feels Sarfaraz Ahmed was better suited to lead the Test team in Australia
Pakistan seam bowler Ehsan Adil will miss the ongoing one-day international series in Bangladesh due to a hamstring injury and has been replaced by Umar Gul, the country's cricket board said on Saturday.
Pakistan's Umar Gul became the first bowler to take 5 wickets in a Twenty20 International in the World Cup match against New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the sports ministry has asked the PCB not to offer a long-term contract to its incumbent director of cricket Mohammad Hafeez yet, who came into the role after the 50-overs World Cup last year.
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers said he made a few captaincy errors that may have helped Pakistan snatch a thrilling win from the jaws of defeat in the opening Group 2 Super Eights match of the ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo on Friday.
The West Indies second string side was all at sea against the Pakistan pace battery and bowled out for a paltry 133 in 33.4 overs in the opening Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Johannesburg, on Wednesday. Pakistan left-armer Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul took three for 24 and three for 28 respectively as the inexperienced West Indies batting line-up never looked in contention.
Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh will be among a host of former stars in the India Maharaja team which will take part in the inaugural edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC), starting on January 20 in Oman.
