Unacceptable journalism: Pakistan coach denies player refused to meet King Charles
Unacceptable journalism: Pakistan coach denies player refused to meet King Charles
Mike Hesson’s blunt dismissal of the claim that Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha turned his back on King Charles III has added a fresh twist to a Test series already riddled with upheaval. The coach’s insistence that the story is “unacceptable journalism” matters because it not only challenges a narrative that could tarnish a young player’s reputation, it also highlights the chaotic environment surrounding the Pakistan cricket team ahead of the decisive third Test in Birmingham.
The controversy began after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests against England – an innings loss followed by a 194‑run defeat – leaving them 2‑0 down. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ordered a sweeping reshuffle: seven members of the Test squad were sent home and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was dismissed. Among the axed players were Mohammad Rizwan, Imam‑ul‑Haq and Salman Ali Agha.
Media additions
Almost immediately, media outlets reported that Agha had refused an invitation to meet King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, suggesting a protest against his treatment by the PCB.
Hesson, who had been Pakistan’s white‑ball head coach and was only approached about the red‑ball role after the player exits, stepped in to set the record straight. In an interview on Friday, he said:
"Look, I know there's been a void in the news, but people are just making up stories. Salman Ali Agha, as I've said, the three players were released from the squad before I arrived, well before Buckingham Palace. They were sent a note at that time that these three players would not be attending Buckingham Palace. So, someone's just made something up."
Mike Hesson, interim Pakistan head coach, via IndiaToday
He added that the remaining members of the squad had already been placed on the guest list, and no last‑minute changes were made:
"In terms of the other players, all of the rest of the players that were in the squad were already on the list. I was already on the list as the white‑ball head coach, so there have been no changes to it. It was all very straightforward. Someone's just got two and two together and come up with nine. For me, that's unacceptable journalism."
Mike Hesson, via LiveMint
Hesson’s remarks carry weight because he was not involved in the decision to drop the three players. He explained that the PCB informed him of the squad changes before his arrival in England, and that his own appointment came only after the reductions were already in motion.
“When they told me if I could manage the side for the final Test, these three players were already released from the squad and on their way home. So, I really don't know what happened there,” Hesson told reporters.
He further clarified his own timeline: after a white‑ball camp in Lahore, he returned from Japan – where the Asian Games were being held – before being asked to take charge of the Test side. The new focus, he said, is building a bowling attack with variety for the Birmingham encounter scheduled to begin on September 9.
What happened to the squad?
- Players released: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam‑ul‑Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Khurram Shahzad.
- Players photographed with the King: Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, Awais Zafar, Khurram Shahzad.
- Replacements called up: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran (Randhawa), Razaullah, among others.
The presence of four of the released players at the Buckingham Palace event – captured in photographs circulated by the BBC’s Test Match Special – contradicts the notion that Agha alone declined the engagement. However, the former T20I skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who also left the squad, was not seen at the ceremony.
Timeline of key events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 4 2026 | Media reports allege Salman Ali Agha refused to meet the King. |
| September 4 2026 | Mike Hesson publicly denies the claim, calls the story “unacceptable journalism”. |
| September 9 2026 | Third and final Test begins in Birmingham. |
