Humiliating defeats in the first two Tests on English soil, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has executed a major overhaul of its squad. With one match remaining in the three-Test series, seven players—including Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq—have been sent back home midway through the tour.
On Wednesday (September 2, 2026), the PCB made the decisive call following severe batting failures and poor overall performances at Headingley and Lord’s. Alongside Rizwan and Imam, the players sent home include Agha Salman, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Following this major axing, five new faces and several young prospects have been inducted into the squad, accompanied by a complete reshuffle of the coaching management.
Limited-overs head coach Mike Hesson has now been handed the reigns as the head coach of the Test side as well. Furthermore, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul have been relieved of their duties, with Ashley Noffke joining the coaching setup as the new bowling coach. The restructured Pakistan team is set to take the field for the final Test at Edgbaston starting September 9.
