The Pakistan Cricket Federation opened an internal investigation into the “discipline and conduct” file during the team’s tour of England, days after surprising decisions that included the exclusion of a number of players and changes in the technical staff.
According to The Guardian, a spokesman for the federation confirmed on Monday that the investigation is currently underway, without naming any player or revealing the nature of the possible violations. But the newspaper reported that two players had their mobile phones confiscated, and data from them was copied by security officials in the federation.
This step, according to the report, came after Pakistan’s heavy loss to England in the second test at Lord’s by 194 runs, a result that put the entire round under great pressure, especially after Pakistan became 2-0 behind before the last test.
Amir Mir, head of communications at the Pakistani Federation, said on the “X” platform that the federation has begun an internal disciplinary investigation after media reports addressed issues related to discipline and behavior, noting that these reports are subject to review in accordance with the procedures adopted within the federation.
He added that these files are dealt with in accordance with the Federation’s regulations, while ensuring that the situations of all concerned are taken into account. To date, the exact nature of the investigation has not been announced, nor has it been linked to specific behavior or a clear violation, nor has a timetable been set for its results.
The only name that has faced public criticism so far is Imam-ul-Haq. The player sparked anger within the federation and among a section of the fans after he did not participate in the batting during either half of the “Lord’s” defeat, due to a mild muscle injury in his calf that he suffered on the first day.
Aqib Javed, Pakistan’s high performance director, said in an interview with Geo News that Imam-ul-Haq’s injury represents a “big question mark” and a “deep disappointment.” He added that players in the past were subjected to injuries and tried to play despite that, considering that a muscle injury of this type should not prevent a player from hitting in both halves.
Javid stressed that Imam will face an investigation, saying that he cannot be certain that he feigned injury, but he believes that a muscle strain alone is not enough to completely prevent him from trying to play.
Since then, Imamul Haq has been left out of the squad, along with Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shehzad, and unused players Aamir Jamal and Mohammad Owais Zafar. Sarfraz Ahmed was also sacked as head coach, and New Zealander Mike Hesson was transferred from the white-ball squad to take over.
Speaking after the team’s training in Edgbaston, new bowling coach Ashley Noffke said that he does not know much about the background of the decisions, explaining that he is outside the circle of administrative decision-making. He added that the role of the technical staff is to keep the players focused on what they can control.
Novke pointed out that his experience with Pakistani cricket taught him that there is always something happening in the background, whether it is within or outside the control of the players, adding that most of these matters are usually outside their control.
The turmoil is not limited to the England tour. The current crisis brought to the fore news that 9 players were fined during Pakistan’s recent tour of the Caribbean. According to “The Guardian,” this incident was considered relatively limited, as the players had to remain within the areas designated for players and match officials during a preparatory match in Trinidad, but a group of them left that area to watch the FIFA World Cup final from another part of the stadium that is not included in the restrictions.
