Pakistan called an abrupt halt to questions about their tumultuous Test tour on Tuesday with captain Babar Azam fronting a tetchy pre-match press conference.
After answering questions in Urdu, Babar fielded half a dozen from Sky Sports in English, but was then shepherded away before the written press were given a chance, with Pakistan media manager Syed Naeem Ahmed saying: ‘We are short on time.’
The cutting of the chat after just nine minutes came after focus turned to the internal discipline inquiry launched by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday.
Asked if he could shed any light on what was being investigated, Babar said: ‘No, I don’t know. I have no idea’, adding that he had not been involved in discussions on the subject – oor with the decision to send seven players plus coach Sarfaraz Ahmed home after Pakistan went 2-0 down at Lord’s.
The huge upheaval of personnel between the second and third Tests means that the tourists, now being led by limited-overs coach Mike Hesson, are set to make five changes at Edgbaston.
However, quizzed on whether recent events had been difficult for him personally, Babar said: ‘Not difficult. Yes, a surprise for us, but the new players are coming. They have a golden opportunity to grab things and play.’
Pakistan captain Babar Azam during a short press conference at Edgbaston on Tuesday
