Reports: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq Dropped From Pakistan

Two batters walked out to bat at Lord’s. Only one of them faced a ball. That image — an opener padded up in both innings without a single delivery bowled at him — now sits at the centre of the biggest squad purge Pakistan has staged this year.

The outlet reported on Saturday, September 5, 2026, that Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq have been sent home, with the decision driven by more than numbers. The report states that conduct inside the dressing room was also a factor, alongside a lean run with the bat.

Why Rizwan and Imam Were Sent Home

The numbers tell half the story. Rizwan managed just 61 runs from 4 innings in the series, a return that put his place under pressure long before the final word came. His shot selection at Lord’s drew specific criticism — a loose moment at a venue where England’s batting discipline, the kind we broke down in our piece on Joe Root’s tactical evolution, has often decided Tests.

Imam’s case is stranger. The report says he did not face a single delivery in either innings at Lord’s after reporting a calf strain. That absence from the crease, per the outlet, raised questions about his commitment — a damaging perception for any opener, and one that technique alone cannot fix, however sound the fundamentals, the way we examined in why Joe Root’s conventional stance endures.
> The decision to remove Rizwan and Imam was not driven by form alone — conduct inside the dressing room was also a factor, according to the report.
Before the axe fell, both players — along with Salman Ali Agha — were reportedly asked to appear before a committee to explain specific incidents from the West Indies and England tours. That hearing process suggests the board wanted documentation on record, not just whispers.

Seven Players Out: The Full Pakistan Shake-Up

This was never a two-man call. The broader squad shake-up reportedly removed seven players in total:. Full coverage via BBC Sport.

• Mohammad Rizwan
• Imam-ul-Haq
• Salman Ali Agha
• Ali Usman
• Aamir Jamal
• Muhammad Awais Zafar
• Khurram Shahzad

Seven careers paused in one sweep. For a dressing room already under scrutiny after two difficult tours, the message from the Pakistan Cricket Board is unmistakable — selection is now tied to behaviour, not reputation. Rizwan, a former mainstay behind the stumps and a batter once viewed as the format’s safest pair of hands, finds himself outside the tent at 34, with younger keepers waiting.

What Next for Pakistan’s Rebuild

The committee’s findings will shape what comes next. If the board publishes its reasoning, Rizwan and Imam could face a longer road back; if the matter stays internal, a strong domestic season might reopen the door. Either way, the returning batters must rebuild trust as much as technique — refining shot selection of the sort dissected in our breakdown of Joe Root’s technical mechanics rather than forcing the issue early. Full coverage via BBC Sport Cricket.

For Pakistan’s management, the short-term pain is real. Losing an experienced keeper-batter and a capped opener mid-cycle weakens the XI on paper. But the board has clearly decided that a settled, committed dressing room matters more than settled names. The image that lingers, though, is Lord’s: Imam padded up, untouched, and a team that decided commitment questions answer themselves.

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FAQs

Why were Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq dropped?

Per the outlet, the decision was not based on form alone; dressing-room conduct and specific incidents from the West Indies and England tours were also factors.

How many runs did Rizwan score in the series?

He scored 61 runs from 4 innings, with his shot selection at Lord’s drawing particular criticism.

Why did Imam not bat at Lord’s?

He reported a calf strain and did not face a single delivery in either innings, which raised questions about his commitment.

Who else was removed from the Pakistan squad?

Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad were also reportedly removed, taking the total to seven players.