India, Sept. 1 -- Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was left shocked as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the decision to make wholesale changes right in the middle of the team's Test tour of England. Afridi called it the "most shocking decision ever" as Pakistan replaced almost half of their squad and also released Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul - their head coach and bowling coach - after the team lost the first two Test matches of the series against England.

Following the 194-run loss at Lord's last week, which saw England seal the series 2-0, Pakistan released seven players - Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad - from the squad.

They picked five uncapped players - A...