Pakistan pushed the panic button and made major changes to their Test setup after losing the first two Tests against England, dropping seven players and replacing two members of the coaching staff ahead of the third and final Test in Birmingham.After a 194-run defeat at Lord’s, which gave England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to overhaul both the squad and the support staff.Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have been called back to Pakistan. They will be replaced by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke for the final Test starting on September 9.The PCB has also sent home seven players. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, spinner Ali Usman and fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, many of whom featured in the Lord’s Test, have been dropped from the squad. All-rounder Aamir Jamal and batter Awais Zafar have also returned home without playing a match on the tour.Sarfaraz’s three-month spell as head coach ended after Pakistan lost five of their six away Tests under him — two against Bangladesh, one against the West Indies and two against England.Babar Azam’s return as Test captain has also failed to improve Pakistan’s results. He replaced Shan Masood as captain in May and drew the West Indies series 1-1 before Pakistan lost the first two Tests in England.Pakistan have now lost 10 of their last 11 away Test matches.
When India changed coaches during the England tour in 2014
India made similar changes during their tour of England in 2014 after a poor Test series.India won the second Test at Lord’s to go 1-0 up in the five-match series before losing the next three heavily, including a humiliating innings and 244-run defeat within three days at The Oval in the final outing.After the series defeat, the BCCI reshuffled the support staff for the ODI series against England.Former India captain Ravi Shastri was appointed Director of Cricket, while Duncan Fletcher continued as head coach.The BCCI also gave bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney a “break” for the ODI series. Sanjay Bangar and former India fast bowler Bharat Arun joined as assistant coaches, while R. Sridhar became the fielding coach.The BCCI had said: “In their continuing efforts to re-energise the support to the team, the BCCI has given a break to the bowling coach Mr Joe Dawes and the fielding coach, Mr Trevor Penny for the one day series and appointed Mr Sanjay Bangar, former Indian all rounder and former India fast bowler Mr Bharat Arun as the Asst. coaches of the team. Mr R.Sridhar will join the support team as the fielding coach for the one day series.“India went on to win the five-match ODI series 3-1. After first ODI was washed out in Bristol, India went on to win the next three games in Cardiff, Nottingham, and Bermingham, respectively, before losing the last ODI in Leeds.
