Pakistan Axes Seven Players Ahead of Edgbaston Test
Pakistan have reacted to their Lord’s humiliation with a ruthlessness rarely seen mid-tour, axing seven players and reshaping their red-ball coaching staff before the third Test at Edgbaston.
Two crushing defeats to England — an innings-and-103-run loss in Leeds and a 194-run mauling at Lord’s — have left them 0-2 down in the three-match series and beaten in five of their last six Tests. The response from Lahore was swift and unforgiving.
Big names out as PCB swings the axe
Among those released from the Test squad are some of the most recognisable faces in the current set-up: former white-ball captain Salman Ali Agha, senior wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and opening batter Imam-ul-Haq.
They are joined on the way out by Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad, as the Pakistan Cricket Board ripped up the existing script in an attempt to jolt a faltering campaign back to life.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has today announced that seven players have been released from the Test squad following completion of the Lord’s Test. A total of seven replacements have been named including five uncapped players at Test level and two capped players,” the PCB said in a statement.
The departures come after intense scrutiny of several players in the wake of the Lord’s defeat. Imam, who missed both innings with a calf injury sustained on the opening day, drew criticism when he appeared on the outfield for warm-ups on the fourth morning. Rizwan, already under pressure for a lean run with the bat, invited more questions over his place when he was trapped lbw attempting a slog in the second innings.
In a series already slipping away, those moments stuck.
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal headline new-look squad
Seven new faces step into the void, a blend of limited Test experience and raw domestic form.
At the top of the list are Test-capped batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, along with left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas.
Saim has eight Tests behind him, Abdullah two. Minhas has featured for Pakistan in three ODIs and four T20Is. All three now carry the burden of lifting a batting unit that has repeatedly buckled under England’s pressure.
“Among the players announced as replacements, batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have played eight and two Tests, respectively, while left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas has represented Pakistan in three ODIs and four T20Is,” the PCB said.
Alongside them come four uncapped players at Test level, each rewarded for domestic performances and versatility.
Left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Imran Jnr joins the squad, as does wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig, named player of the tournament in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26. Right-arm pace-bowling all-rounders Mohammad Imran, also known as Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah round out the list.
“The four other players are left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Imran Jnr, wicketkeeper-batter and player of the tournament of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 Saad Baig, right-arm pace bowling all-rounders Mohammad Imran (also known as Imran Randhawa) and Razaullah,” the PCB added.
It is a clear shift towards fresh energy and multi-dimensional cricketers, with Pakistan betting on hunger and flexibility over reputation.
Sarfaraz and Gul removed as red-ball reset deepens
The shake-up does not stop with the playing XI.
Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have both been released from their roles mid-series, a striking move that underlines the level of frustration within the set-up.
In their place, the PCB has turned to the white-ball brains trust. Head coach Mike Hesson and assistant Ashley Noffke will now double up, taking charge of the red-ball backroom responsibilities for the remainder of the England tour.
“Additionally, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul have also been released and will be replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke in the backroom staff,” the PCB confirmed.
It is an unusual crossover, but Pakistan clearly hope Hesson’s strategic nous and Noffke’s work with the limited-overs group can inject clarity and structure into a Test side that has looked bereft of both.
Edgbaston or bust
All of this funnels into one question: what now?
Pakistan head to Edgbaston for the third Test, starting September 9, with a 0-2 deficit, a remodelled squad, and a new coaching configuration. The series is already gone; pride and direction are now on the line.
The overhaul signals that the board has run out of patience with incremental tweaks. Edgbaston will show whether this shock therapy can steady a listing red-ball project, or whether it marks the start of an even deeper rebuild.
