Mike Hesson Refutes Claims of Salman Ali Agha Snubbing Royal Invitation

Mike Hesson, the interim coach for Pakistan, has strongly denied reports suggesting that Salman Ali Agha declined an invitation to meet King Charles III. Addressing the media, Hesson clarified that Agha and two other players were informed prior to his arrival that they would not attend the royal reception. This comes after the PCB's decision to release several players following disappointing performances against England. As the team prepares for the final Test at Edgbaston, Hesson emphasizes the need for clarity amidst swirling rumors of internal discord.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 5, 2026, 01:17 IST

Hesson Addresses Agha's Alleged Absence from Royal Reception

Mike Hesson, the white-ball coach for Pakistan, firmly countered allegations that Salman Ali Agha turned down an invitation to meet King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on September 3. Hesson is currently acting as the interim red-ball coach after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dismissed Sarfaraz Ahmed following consecutive losses to England at Headingley and Lord's.

Prior to the final Test of the three-match series at Edgbaston, the team, led by Babar Azam, attended a royal reception at Clarence House. This event came after the PCB's decision to release seven players, including Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, and Imam-ul-Haq, from the Test squad following a 194-run defeat at Lord's.

Reports suggested that Agha was asked to remain in England due to his role as captain in Babar Azam's absence during the first Test, but he allegedly declined to attend the royal event. This situation has sparked rumors of discord within the team amid ongoing discussions in the cricketing community.

Hesson Dismisses Snub Reports as Fabricated

In a press conference before the Edgbaston Test, Hesson addressed the rumors regarding Agha's absence from the royal gathering, labeling them as false and asserting that Agha had been informed he would not be attending.

"There has been a gap in news, leading to the creation of these stories. Salman Ali Agha, as I mentioned, was among three players released from the squad before my arrival, well ahead of the Buckingham Palace event," Hesson stated.

"They were notified at that time that they would not be attending the royal event. It seems someone has fabricated this story," he added.

MIKE HESSON: "This is a void in the news, but people are making up fake stories. Three players, including Salman, were released from the squad before I arrived. After their release from the squad, they were informed that they would not be attending the dinner."

Agha's Performance and Team Changes

In the opening Test against England, where Agha served as the stand-in captain, he scored 21 and 4 in his two innings. However, he was dropped from the playing XI for the second Test at Lord's.

Ahead of the Edgbaston Test, Agha was among the seven players sent back home following the defeat at Lord's.

Hesson Clarifies Royal Guest List

Hesson further clarified that Agha and the other two released players were informed prior to his arrival that they would not be attending the royal engagement, dismissing any notion of a last-minute snub.

"All other players in the squad were already on the list. I was included as the white-ball head coach, so there were no changes made," he explained.

"It was all quite straightforward. Someone has simply misinterpreted the situation. For me, that constitutes unacceptable journalism," Hesson concluded.

Pakistan's Squad Adjustments

After suffering two consecutive defeats against England at Headingley and Lord's, the Pakistan team, led by Babar Azam, is now focused on salvaging pride as they prepare for the Edgbaston Test.

In light of the PCB's significant changes, Pakistan has added Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran, Saad Baig, and Razaullah to their squad as replacements for the seven players sent home.