Player skips King Charles reception

Axed-players are also advised to attend the event at Clarence House

Pakistan cricket is under increasing pressure following a series of abrupt changes to the Test squad after the team suffered a second successive defeat to England at Lord’s last week.

According to English media reports, players released from Pakistan’s squad following the Lord’s Test were also instructed to attend a reception hosted by King Charles III at Clarence House. However, one player reportedly refused to attend.

The reports claim that the players released from the squad were told they had to attend the event because the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) feared an embarrassingly low turnout.

The Express Tribune approached the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials for confirmation, but they did not respond.

Earlier this week, Pakistan released seven players from the touring party including Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Awais Zafar, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Imam-ul-Haq and Aamer Jamal after the team lost both of its opening Tests by heavy margins. The board also announced replacements for the final Test which will begin in Birmingham on September 9.

Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Awais Zafar have reportedly attended the Clarence House reception. However, a fifth player reportedly stayed away in protest over his treatment.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam presented King Charles III with a cricket bat signed by members of the national squad as the monarch welcomed Pakistan’s cricket team at Clarence House on Wednesday.

The royal reception offered a welcome moment of encouragement for a Pakistan side enduring a difficult Test tour, with the team preparing for the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston from September 9.

Babar, accompanied by several members of the touring squad, handed the King the specially signed bat during the meeting. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi also presented the monarch with a gift.

King Charles welcomed Pakistan’s players, support staff and PCB officials at his London residence. Photographs of the gathering were later shared through the British royal family’s official social media channels.

Among those attended the event also included: Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Abdullah Shafique, Azan Awais, Sajid Khan and Mohammad Ali. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and PCB High-Performance Director Aaqib Javed were also present.

The visit came after heavy changes were brought in Pakistan’s Test setup following two heavy defeats to England. England clinched the three-match series after winning the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs.

In response, the PCB made sweeping changes to the squad, sending seven players home and replacing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with Mike Hesson for the final Test.

Naqvi, who attended the royal engagement, later described his meeting with King Charles as “very productive”. According to the PCB chairman, the King encouraged the Pakistani players and praised Pakistan’s efforts towards peace and security.

For Pakistan, the Clarence House reception provided a brief break from the pressure surrounding the Test series. The focus now returns to the cricket field, where the visitors will seek to avoid a clean sweep and restore some pride in the final Test at Edgbaston.