Pakistan has dropped seven players and replaced its head coach following consecutive Test losses to England, implementing sweeping changes ahead of the final match of the series.
Pakistan Cricket Board has enacted significant changes to both its playing squad and coaching setup following two successive defeats against England in the ongoing Test series. The team management has removed seven players from the roster, including five who participated in the opening two Tests: Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad. Additionally, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar, who did not feature in either match, have been sent home.
The board has brought in seven replacements to strengthen the squad for the third Test. Among these are Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, both of whom have prior Test experience. Five uncapped players—Arafat Minhas, Mohammed Imran Jr, Said Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah—have also been added to the roster. The restructuring comes after Pakistan's poor batting performance across both matches, with the team dismissed for under 200 runs in all four innings at Headingley and Lord's.
Beyond player changes, Pakistan has also replaced its head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul. Mike Hesson, currently Pakistan's white-ball coach, and Ashley Noffke, a former Australian fast bowler, will oversee the final Test at Edgbaston beginning September 9. The overhaul reflects the magnitude of Pakistan's struggles, following an innings defeat in the first Test and a 194-run loss in the second.
The series has been marked by additional turmoil, including a dispute involving the Pakistan Cricket Board that threatened the continuation of matches over a media interview broadcast during the second Test. Captain Babar Azam and the former coaching staff later indicated they were unaware of any planned boycott related to the incident.