Unacceptable journalism: Pakistan coach denies player refused to meet King Charles

Red-ball Pakistan interim coach Mike Hesson flatly refused reports that Salman Ali Agha refused to attend the meeting with King Charles III, called the story “unacceptable journalism” and insisted the Pakistan batsman had been told he would not be taking part in the engagement before Hesson had even arrived in England.

The news comes amid a period of extraordinary turmoil in Pakistan cricket, with seven players dropped from the Test squad after heavy defeats in the opening two matches against England and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked. Salman, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were among those dismissed from the team.

But Hesson, who only took charge of the Test side after the three players had already left England, said there was no controversy over their absence from the King’s engagement at Buckingham Palace.

“Look, I know there’s been a gap in the news, but people just make up stories. Salman Ali Agha, as I said, three players were dropped from the squad before I arrived, long before Buckingham Palace,” Hesson said on Friday.

“A message was sent to them at the time that the three players would not be attending Buckingham Palace. So someone made something up,” he added.

“People just make up stories!”

Pakistan caretaker coach Mike Hesson has responded to reports that Salman Ali Agha has refused to attend a meeting with King Charles after being dropped. pic.twitter.com/0JWrMbXXev— Test Match Special (@bbctms) September 4, 2026

Hesson said the remaining Pakistan players were on the guest list from the start and there were no last-minute changes to the squad.

“As for the other players, all the other players that were in the squad were already on the roster. I was already on the roster as the head coach of the white ball, so there were no changes to it,” he said.

“It was all very straightforward. Someone put two and two together and came up with nine. To me, that’s unacceptable journalism,” Hesson added.

NO ROLE AT DEMAND: HESSON

The explanation comes as Hesson tries to steer Pakistan into the third and final Test against England in Birmingham, starting on September 9, while staying away from the decisions that triggered the latest upheaval.

Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings before suffering a 194-run defeat in the second, leaving them 2–0 down in the series. The results led to a major revision, p seven players axed and Sarfaraz dismissed as head coach.

Hesson, who had been Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, was subsequently asked to look after the red-ball side for the final Test.

But he made it clear that he had no part in the decision to release Salman, Rizwan and the imam.

“When they told me if I could make the side for the final Test, those three players had already been released from the squad and were on their way home. So I really don’t know what happened there,” Hesson said.

He explained that his involvement came later when he was asked to reshape the team for the final Test.

Hesson said he was in Lahore for a white-ball camp and had just returned from Japan, where the Asian Games are being held, when he was approached to take over the Test side.

“I have decided to make some changes to the squad to bring some balance to the squad,” he said.

Since then, he has focused on building a bowling attack capable of offering England a different challenge in Birmingham.

“I’ve been emphasizing a bowling attack that’s diverse and we’ve got some bowling all-rounders,” Hesson said.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

04 Sep 2026 22:40 IST