“Not a good thing”: Salman Ali Agha slams Mohsin Naqvi and PCB over controversial sacking of 7 players during ENG Series

Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha has questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to send seven players back home during the England tour in August 2026. Calling the decision “not a good thing”, Agha made it clear that he does not want to see such action repeated during a series.

Without directly naming PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Agha questioned the decision to remove several players in the middle of an ongoing series. He was among the seven players who were sent back home without any official explanation from the PCB.

After nearly two months, Agha has finally spoken about the incident as Pakistan prepares to face Sri Lanka in the ODI Tri-Series final on October 31. His comments have once again brought the controversial decision into focus and raised questions about the PCB's handling of the England tour.

Salman Ali Agha slams Mohsin Naqvi and PCB: What he said about the 7-player sacking

During the 2026 England series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent seven players back home, including senior cricketers Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan. The decision came as a surprise, especially as the series was still ongoing. A month after the incident, Agha has finally spoken about the decision and indirectly questioned the PCB's move.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Agha said, “During the series, this (sending players home) has never happened before, and I don’t think it’ll happen again. Dropping players [out of the squad] during the series is not a good thing, and hopefully it won’t happen again.” His comments highlighted his disappointment with the PCB's decision.

See also -Watch: PCB seizes Pakistan players' mobile phones in London as investigation into England Tests continues

Agha had captained Pakistan in the first Test in Babar Azam's absence. However, he was dropped for the second Test after scoring 21 and 4 in the two innings. The batter's latest comments have once again brought attention to the PCB's decision to send seven players home during the England tour.

Which 7 players were sent home from Pakistan’s England Test squad, and what Naqvi said

The PCB's decision to make major changes during the England Test series involved several established players, including Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq. The board made the changes after Pakistan fell 2-0 behind in the series and decided to send seven players back home.

The seven players removed from Pakistan's England Test squad were Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Imam-ul-Haq (opener), Salman Ali Agha (batter), Ali Usman (spinner), Aamir Jamal (seamer), Muhammad Awais Zafar (bowler) and Khurram Shahzad (seamer).

See also -Funny fan reactions to PM Shehbaz Sharif’s tweet on Pakistan’s win over India in Hong Kong Sixes 2026

Meanwhile, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not made any public comments on Agha's latest remarks about the decision. The batter's comments have once again brought attention to the board's decision to remove seven players during an ongoing Test series.

Salman Ali Agha backs Pakistan ahead of Sri Lanka match in Tri-series final

Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha believes his team can beat Sri Lanka in the ODI Tri-Series final if the players perform to their full potential. Speaking ahead of the October 31 final, Agha said, "If we play to our strengths, we can win the final comfortably." He is hopeful that Pakistan will deliver a strong performance and secure the title.

However, Agha also pointed out the team's poor top-order form as a major concern. He said, "Our top order is not scoring runs the way it used to three or four years ago. Tomorrow is the final, and I hope it clicks." The batter hopes Pakistan's top-order players will find their form in the important match against Sri Lanka.

Agha also backed senior batters Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam despite the criticism they have faced for their recent performances. Praising their contributions to Pakistan cricket, he said, "Fakhar and Babar are among the best one-day players. They have won so many matches for Pakistan. Sometimes things do not go your way in cricket, and I think that is what is happening with them."