The Pakistan third Test squad has been drastically overhauled after two heavy defeats to England, with seven players dropped, five uncapped newcomers called up, and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed released mid-series ahead of the final match at Edgbaston on 9 September.
Pakistan third Test squad: who is in and who is out
Five players who featured in the series have been dropped: Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad. Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar have been sent home without having played.
Seven players have been called up in total. Batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal bring previous Test experience. Joining them are five uncapped players: spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas, left-arm seamer Mohammed Imran Jr, wicketkeeper Said Baig, and all-rounders Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.
Sarfaraz and his assistant Umar Gul have been replaced. According to cricket.com.au, Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s white-ball coach, will take over as head coach for the Edgbaston Test. Former Australian international Ashley Noffke has been brought in as his assistant.
Scale of the collapse that prompted the changes
Pakistan have been bowled out for less than 200 in each of their four innings across the first two Tests. They lost the opening match at Headingley by an innings and were beaten at Lord’s by 194 runs.
For a touring side to send home seven players and the head coach in the middle of a series is without precedent. The Pakistan Cricket Board has a history of sweeping responses to defeat, but the scale of this intervention is in a category of its own.
Among those dropped is Salman Ali Agha, who captained the side in the first Test when Babar Azam was injured, only to be left out of the second. Opener Imam-ul-Haq was also cut after being criticised at Lord’s for not attempting to bat in either innings following a calf injury sustained while fielding on the opening day.
Controversy surrounds the Lord’s Test
The selection overhaul follows a turbulent second Test at Lord’s. At lunch on the first day, the Pakistan Cricket Board threatened to cancel the rest of the match and the tour after Sky broadcast an interview with the sons of Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain and prime minister, who has been in prison for three years on charges of corruption, which he denies.
Pakistan ultimately completed the Test. Both captain Babar Azam and head coach Sarfaraz denied any knowledge of a planned boycott.
The tourists are also due to have an audience with King Charles at Clarence House this week.
Pakistan’s record of eccentric decisions after defeats
Pakistan’s response to adversity has drawn comparisons with previous episodes. On England‘s last tour of Pakistan in 2024, the hosts reacted to losing the first Test, in which England posted a total in excess of 800, by playing the second Test on the same pitch in Multan. On that occasion, Pakistan used garden heaters and fans to dry the surface, with the aim of assisting their spinners. Pakistan won the next two Tests to take that series 2-1.
The third and final Test of this series begins at Edgbaston on 9 September.
