Following heavy losses in the first two Tests, the Pakistan Cricket Board has released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and seven players ahead of the third Test in Birmingham.
In an unusual move ahead of the third and final Test match against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on August 31, 2026, that it has released seven players alongside head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul from its touring squad.
The major overhaul follows heavy defeats for Pakistan in the opening two Tests at Leeds and Lord's. Mike Hesson has been appointed as the new head coach, while Ashley Noffke replaces Gul as the bowling coach ahead of the final Test starting September 9 in Birmingham.
The seven dropped players are Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. They have been replaced by Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Saad Baig, Muhammad Randhawa, Razaullah, and Muhammad Imran Jnr.
Five of the incoming seven players have international experience, whereas Muhammad Randhawa and Razaullah are yet to represent Pakistan at any level. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have previously played eight and two Tests respectively, while left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas has played three ODIs and four T20Is.
The new additions also feature left-arm pacer Mohammad Imran Jnr, right-arm pace-bowling all-rounders Mohammad Imran (also known as Imran Randhawa) and Razaullah, and wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig, who won Player of the Tournament in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
The updated squad joining the tour in Birmingham includes Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, and Ubaid Shah.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Cricket. Photo courtesy The Hindu Cricket.