Former England captain Nasser Hussain has criticised Pakistan’s approach to Test cricket, questioning the team management’s selection decisions and the way players have been handled during the series in England.
Hussain’s criticism followed Saim Ayub’s difficult outing in the Edgbaston Test. The Pakistan batter, who had been playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), was called into the Test squad shortly afterwards. He was unable to make an impact, recording a duck in both innings.
Rather than blaming Ayub alone for his failure, Hussain has questioned the decision to bring him into the Test side with so little preparation for the longest format. Speaking to Sky Sports, the former England captain argued that Pakistan’s management had placed the player in a demanding situation without giving him enough opportunity to adjust.
Hussain pointed out that Ayub had not played a first-class match for 11 months. Just 10 days before joining Pakistan’s Test set-up, he had been involved in the CPL, a T20 competition. The sudden switch from franchise cricket in the Caribbean to Test cricket in England, according to Hussain, made the selection difficult to understand.
The former England captain also highlighted the challenge posed by the Dukes ball, which is traditionally used in English first-class and Test cricket. Batters must generally be prepared for a different set of conditions in England, where movement through the air and off the pitch can make batting particularly demanding.
Hussain described Ayub’s situation as an example of a player being asked to move rapidly between two very different formats. He questioned who had decided that a batter could be brought directly from an overseas T20 competition and be expected to perform in a Test match under unfamiliar conditions.
For Hussain, the issue therefore extends beyond Ayub’s two failures with the bat. He believes the circumstances surrounding the selection reflect a wider problem with Pakistan’s planning for Test cricket.
Pakistan have also undergone substantial changes during the series. Following the Lord’s Test, seven players were removed from the squad and sent home. Seven replacements were subsequently brought in, five of whom were yet to make their Test debuts.
The coaching staff was also reshaped. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were dismissed as part of the changes. Despite the overhaul, Pakistan continued to struggle in the final Test at Edgbaston and were facing the prospect of an innings defeat.
The scale and timing of the changes have particularly concerned Hussain. He believes removing seven players while a Test series is still underway can have a serious effect on the atmosphere within the dressing room.
According to Hussain, players naturally develop relationships with their teammates, including those they share rooms with during a tour. When several members of the squad are suddenly sent home, it can undermine the sense of security and collective responsibility within the group.
He also referred to the decision to leave out a bowler who had taken five wickets in the previous match. Hussain argued that such decisions can send an unsettling message to the rest of the squad, leaving players to wonder whether their own places are secure even after strong individual performances.
The former England captain believes a successful Test side needs more than talented individuals. Players need confidence in the selection process and faith that the team management has a clear plan. Without that stability, the focus can shift from contributing to the team towards protecting individual positions.
Hussain’s comments, therefore, highlight concerns at several levels of Pakistan’s Test set-up. The selection of Ayub after a lengthy absence from first-class cricket, the rapid movement between T20 and Test cricket, the use of a ball and conditions requiring a different style of preparation, and the sweeping mid-series changes have all contributed to his criticism.
Pakistan’s immediate struggles at Edgbaston have brought those concerns into sharper focus. For Hussain, the problem is not simply a matter of one player failing to score runs. He sees the situation as evidence of a wider failure to provide consistency, preparation and stability—three elements he considers essential to building a competitive Test side.
