Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik sharply criticised Pakistan‘s Test performances during their series against England in August 2026, calling the side ‘very ordinary’ and questioning their selection process and overall standards in the longest format.
Pakistan lost the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs and the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs, going down 2-0 in the three-match series. Following those defeats, the Pakistan Cricket Board removed Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul from their roles. Seven players were also sent home from the tour and replaced, including five uncapped cricketers, while white-ball head coach Mike Hesson was handed charge of the Test side for the third Test, scheduled to start September 9, 2026, in Birmingham.
“When I did the England vs Pakistan Test series, man, this Pakistan team is very ordinary. In the first two Test matches, they didn’t even play 90 overs across two innings. The wickets were spicy. It wasn’t easy, but it definitely wasn’t a pitch where you could not play 90 overs across both innings. I don’t think that’s good enough. I think what they’re doing is a disservice to Test cricket, like what Nasser Hussain said. I quite agree with him because they made 7 changes [in the squad after the second Test] and made changes to the support staff [sacked Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul after going down 2-0 in the series]. In the last match, they competed,” Karthik said, on his YouTube channel.
Why did Karthik question Pakistan’s selection process?
Karthik’s criticism extended beyond the batting collapses and heavy defeats. He pointed specifically to the selection decisions that led to Pakistan fielding a squad he considered inadequate for Test cricket at the highest level. His concern centred on a player named Razaullah, who performed well in the third and final Test but had not been part of the squad from the beginning of the series, raising questions about how Pakistan identify and pick their best available talent.
“Somebody like Razaullah, who actually did well in the Test match [the third and final one], why was he not there from the start? What is happening with the selection process? What kind of players they’re having? The change in captaincy, the change in coaches, everything looks unsettled, and the performances are quite showing it. They didn’t play [well] against England, it didn’t feel like they could compete genuinely, and if I’m being honest, I don’t think they can compete against a lot of Test nations at this point, which is sad,” Karthik said.
What changes did Pakistan make after going 2-0 down?
Pakistan’s response to the 2-0 deficit was sweeping. The Pakistan Cricket Board removed Sarfaraz Ahmed, who had been appointed Test head coach ahead of the Bangladesh Test series in April 2026, making his tenure a short one. Bowling coach Umar Gul was also removed from his position at the same time.
Beyond the coaching staff, seven players were sent home from the England tour and replaced by new faces, five of whom were uncapped at Test level. Mike Hesson, who had been serving as white-ball head coach, was given charge of the Test side for the third match in Birmingham. Karthik acknowledged that Pakistan showed some character in the third Test but maintained that the broader picture of their Test cricket remained deeply concerning.
