Saqlain Mushtaq is unlikely to continue as head coach of Pakistan after the second week of next month. This appears to be a possibility following the team’s Test debacle against England at home.

Saqlain, one of the best off-spinners during his time, could leave after the home series versus New Zealand that begins on December 26 with the first of the two Tests. Sources also said that Babar Azam might lose his captaincy in the longest format by July next year.

“A high-level meeting was held in the office of the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) chairman Ramiz Raja (in Lahore) in which chief selector Mohammad Wasim also participated. Every aspect of the team, selection matters, captaincy and Saqlain’s role were discussed threadbare in the nearly three-hour-long meeting,” one source said.

The source added that Ramiz had given a piece of his mind to Babar, Saqlain and Wasim, making it clear that he was not happy with the selections made for the England Tests. The PCB, it was learnt, felt Babar would be better off just captaining the white-ball squads, while the Test captaincy should be given to Shan Masood or Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan have recalled senior pacer Hasan Ali and named uncapped batsman Kamran Ghulam in their 16-member squad for the two Test series against New Zealand.

The announcement of the squad came amidst strong speculation that an overhaul would be carried out in the PCB on the orders of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is the chief patron of the board. This includes a change in the selection committee with former chairman Najam Sethi replacing Ramiz as the PCB head. However, when contacted by The Telegraph on the matter, a PCB official said: “We have not received anything officially and formally from the Prime Minister’s Office.”

‘Pressure tactics’

The PCB has told the ICC that its threat to boycott next year’s ODI World Cup in India was just to exert pressure on the neighbouring country so that it sends its team for the 2023 Asia Cup that’s set to be hosted by Pakistan.

“Ramiz has assured the ICC that no decision was made on not sending the Pakistan team to India for the ODI World Cup. The PCB had to exert pressure so that the Indian board sends its team for the Asia Cup,” another PCB source said.

He added that Ramiz also said that the PCB wouldn’t accept the 2025 Champions Trophy’s shift from Pakistan.