PCB Launches Inquiry as Pakistan Cricket Faces Fresh Turmoil

Pakistan cricket has been thrown into fresh turmoil, and this time the controversy goes beyond the scorecard. Following a heavy defeat at Lord’s and a wave of sudden squad changes, the Pakistan Cricket Board has launched an internal disciplinary inquiry, adding a darker edge to an already tense Test series against England.

PCB moves quickly after Lord’s collapse

Pakistan’s 194-run loss in the second Test triggered a major shake-up. Several players were dropped from the squad, while the coaching setup also took a hit, with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul relieved of their duties. The scale of the changes has raised eyebrows across the cricketing world, especially because the board’s response appears to extend beyond on-field performance.

According to reports, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar were left out after the defeat. In their place, seven players were added, including a mix of experience and fresh faces. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal are the only two players in the incoming group with international caps, while Razaullah Khan, Mohammad Imran, Arafat Minhas, Saad Baig and Mohammad Imran Junior are still waiting for their debuts.

Internal inquiry shifts focus beyond cricket

The biggest development came when PCB Director Media and Digital Communications Amir Mir confirmed that an internal disciplinary process had begun. “The Pakistan Cricket Board has initiated an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct,” Mir said, adding that the board was handling the matter under standard procedures.

The wording of that statement has fuelled speculation that the issue may not be limited to poor form alone. Reports in the media have suggested that the sweeping changes were driven by factors “more than cricket,” although the PCB has not publicly detailed the exact nature of the concerns.

One of the most striking claims came from Pakistani outlet 365 News, which reported that the PCB had taken possession of the mobile phones of some players. The devices are reportedly being held until the end of the third and final Test, though the board has not identified the players involved or explained the reason behind the move.

Questions around Imam-ul-Haq add pressure

The unrest deepened after PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed raised serious questions about Imam-ul-Haq’s injury. The opening batter suffered a low-grade calf tear during the Lord’s Test and did not bat in either innings, despite Pakistan needing runs and stability at the top.

Aaqib did not hold back when addressing the situation. “The Imam injury is a big question mark, and a deep disappointment,” he said in an interview with Geo. “How is it possible that a pulled muscle ruled you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought.”

He also confirmed that Imam would face an inquiry, though he stopped short of accusing the batter of wrongdoing. “I can’t say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether,” Aaqib added.

Lord’s and Pakistan’s painful history

The latest controversy has an uncomfortable backdrop. Lord’s is not just another Test venue for Pakistan cricket; it is the ground where one of the sport’s most notorious fixing scandals unfolded in 2010. That episode involved Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who were later found guilty of taking bribes from a bookmaker to bowl deliberate no-balls at pre-arranged moments.

All three players were banned from cricket and handed prison sentences, leaving a lasting stain on Pakistan’s reputation. So when fresh disciplinary questions surface at the same venue, the memories return quickly and painfully.

For now, the PCB is trying to control the narrative, but the combination of poor results, squad churn, alleged disciplinary issues and phone seizures has made the series feel far bigger than a simple cricketing setback. As one senior cricket observer put it, the board’s current challenge is no longer about selection alone: it is about restoring trust.

With the final Test still to come, Pakistan faces not only England on the field, but also a growing storm off it. The answers, and perhaps the accountability, may arrive only after the series ends.