‘Perhaps the draw should start the night before?’: Kevin Pietersen mocks chaos in Pakistan | cricket news

Kevin Pietersen shamelessly criticized Pakistan’s dramatic team reshuffle ahead of the third Test against England, joking that the team captain might need to spend an unusually long time answering questions about the changes before the toss.Pakistan have made major changes after losing the first two Tests of the three-match series, with seven players released from the squad and two members of the coaching staff also shown at the door.The magnitude of the overhaul led Pietersen to mock the situation on social media, suggesting that even the routine pre-match interview with the captain could turn into a long affair.

‘It could be a very long interview’

Pietersen, who played 104 Tests for England, addressed the changes in a post on X, referring to Babar Azam as his “friend” and highlighting the inevitable questions the Pakistan captain will face ahead of the third Test.“When a captain is interviewed before each match, the interviewer asks him about the changes in his team. It could be a very long interview for my friend Babar! Maybe the draw should start the night before?” Pietersen posted.The former England batsman’s comment came shortly after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced seven changes to its Test squad following the team’s 194-run loss to England at Lord’s.Pakistan had already suffered an innings, 103-run defeat in the first Test at Leeds, leaving them 0-2 down in the series and facing the prospect of a clean sweep.

Seven players released and the coaching staff reorganized

The PCB released Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad from the Test squad.The board also made changes in the coaching setup, releasing red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will now join the backroom staff for the remainder of the England tour.“The Pakistan Cricket Board has today announced that seven players have been released from the Test squad following the completion of the Lord’s Test. A total of seven replacements have been named, including five non-capped players at Test level and two capped players,” the PCB said in its statement.

Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal among the substitutes

Pakistan have brought in Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have eight and two Tests respectively, while Arafat Minhas has also joined the team.Four players who are yet to make their Test debut have also been included: Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah.The changes mean Pakistan will head into the third Test with a significantly different group to the one that started the series.Pietersen’s prank has added another layer to the extraordinary selection saga, with the focus now firmly on Babar and the make-up of Pakistan’s XI when the third Test begins at Edgbaston on September 9.Pakistan will look to avoid a 3-0 series sweep and end a difficult tour on a positive note.