Pakistan Make Huge Squad Overhaul for Third England Test: Seven Players Released, Coaches Axed
Pakistan Take Drastic Action After England Nightmare
Pakistan cricket has hit the reset button — and this time the changes are enormous.
After suffering two crushing defeats in the first two Tests of the England series, the Pakistan Cricket Board has responded with one of its most dramatic squad overhauls in recent memory.
Seven players have been released from the Test squad, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been removed ahead of the third and final Test in Birmingham, scheduled for September 9 to 13.
This is not a minor adjustment.
It is a major statement from the PCB.
Pakistan entered the England tour hoping to compete in a challenging overseas Test series. Instead, the first two matches turned into one-sided contests. Pakistan lost the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs before England followed it up with another emphatic 194-run victory.
With the series already beyond Pakistan's reach, the PCB has decided that simply changing one or two players is not enough.
The message is obvious: something has to change.
🔥 Seven Pakistan Players Released From Test Squad
The biggest surprise is the number of players removed at once.
The PCB has released opening batters Imam-ul-Haq and Awais Zafar, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, all-rounders Salman Ali Aga and Aamir Jamal, left-arm spinner Ali Usman and right-arm fast bowler Khurram Shahzad.
The departures cover almost every department.
There are changes at the top of the batting order, behind the stumps, in the all-rounder group, in spin and in the pace attack.
That tells us something important about the PCB's assessment of the first two Tests.
The problem was not identified as being limited to one particular player or one particular department.
Pakistan's overall combination simply failed to deliver.
The first two Tests exposed weaknesses in batting consistency, lower-order resistance, bowling control and the team's ability to maintain pressure across long periods.
Instead of continuing with the same group and hoping for a different outcome, the selectors have chosen a completely different approach for Birmingham.
🇵🇰 Saim Ayub Returns to the Test Picture
One of the most interesting inclusions is Saim Ayub.
The young top-order batter returns to the squad at a crucial moment.
His inclusion could provide Pakistan with greater attacking intent at the top of the order, but the bigger question is whether he can translate his white-ball confidence into Test cricket.
England's conditions demand patience.
The ball can move in the air and off the surface, particularly when the bowlers find the right length. An aggressive batter can put pressure on the bowling attack, but aggressive intent must be combined with disciplined shot selection.
Saim therefore has an opportunity to change the momentum of Pakistan's batting unit.
A strong performance in Birmingham could potentially make him one of the biggest talking points of the final Test.
🧤 Saad Baig Gets a Major Opportunity
Another significant selection is emerging wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig.
Baig arrives after winning the Player of the Tournament award in this year's Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
That recognition gives him considerable momentum entering the national setup.
Replacing an experienced wicketkeeper-batter with an emerging player is never a decision made lightly.
But with Mohammad Rizwan released from the squad, Pakistan have clearly decided to give younger talent an opportunity.
The third Test could therefore become an important moment in Saad Baig's career.
He now has the chance to demonstrate that his domestic performances can translate to the international level.
The pressure will be enormous, but so will the opportunity.
🧠 A New-Look Pakistan Batting Line-Up
Pakistan's batting combination could look dramatically different in Birmingham.
Babar Azam remains captain, while Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel and Azan Awais are also part of the updated squad.
Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have been added to strengthen the top order.
The key issue, however, is not simply the names.
Pakistan need partnerships.
The first two Tests demonstrated how quickly pressure can build when wickets fall in clusters.
A Test innings cannot depend entirely on one batter producing a hundred. Pakistan need their top five or six to collectively absorb pressure, rotate strike and force England's bowlers into longer spells.
If Pakistan's top order collapses again, changing seven players will have achieved very little.
But if the new combination establishes a solid opening partnership and allows Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel to bat in less pressured circumstances, the overhaul could begin to make sense.
⚡ All-Rounder Department Gets a Complete Shake-Up
The PCB has also made major changes among the all-rounders.
Salman Ali Aga and Aamir Jamal have been released, while Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah have been brought into the squad.
This creates a fresh opportunity for players who may offer Pakistan a different balance.
Modern Test cricket increasingly rewards teams that have multiple players capable of contributing in both disciplines.
However, there is a danger in making too many changes at once.
New players need time to understand international expectations, communicate with teammates and adjust to England's conditions.
The third Test will therefore be as much an examination of Pakistan's new strategy as it is an examination of individual players.
🎯 Bowling Attack Also Gets a Reset
Khurram Shahzad and Ali Usman have been released, while Mohammad Imran Jr has been added.
Pakistan still retain Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Sajid Khan and Ubaid Shah in the squad.
The bowling changes are particularly interesting because Pakistan's attack had actually shown periods of promise during the series.
Mohammad Abbas, for example, produced an impressive spell in the second Test, claiming four wickets while maintaining excellent control.
But individual bowling performances have not been enough to compensate for the team's broader problems.
Against England, Pakistan need sustained pressure.
One good spell is not enough.
The bowlers need to create chances across multiple sessions, protect their scoring rate and keep England's batters from building massive partnerships.
🚨 Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul Released From Coaching Staff
The player changes are only half of the story.
The PCB has also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul from the setup.
That is a major decision.
Coaches are responsible for far more than match-day tactics. They influence preparation, training routines, selection discussions, player confidence and the overall identity of a team.
When a coaching change occurs during an ongoing series, it immediately raises questions about the team's direction.
Sarfaraz's departure means Pakistan will enter the third Test under a completely different coaching structure.
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson has been named as the replacement head coach, while Ashley Noffke will take over the bowling responsibilities.
That means the final Test will effectively become an experiment in a new coaching environment.
🧩 Mike Hesson Faces an Immediate Test
Mike Hesson has been handed a difficult assignment.
He does not have months to implement his ideas.
He does not have a full preparation camp.
He walks into the Pakistan Test setup with the team already 0-2 down.
That makes Birmingham an immediate examination of his leadership.
Hesson will need to identify the correct batting order, establish bowling roles and, most importantly, restore confidence.
The psychological side may be just as important as the tactical side.
Two consecutive heavy defeats can damage a team's confidence.
Players begin second-guessing their technique.
Bowlers lose attacking intent.
Batters become increasingly defensive.
Fielders start feeling pressure after every missed opportunity.
The new coaching staff therefore need to create a clean-slate mentality.
The message should not be that the players are trying to avoid another defeat.
It should be that Pakistan are trying to win the final Test.
📊 Why the First Two Tests Triggered Such Drastic Changes
The scale of the changes makes sense when the results are considered.
Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings and 103 runs.
That is already a massive margin in Test cricket.
Then came another defeat by 194 runs.
Back-to-back heavy losses usually indicate that the team has failed across several phases of the game.
Pakistan have struggled to maintain batting partnerships, while England have repeatedly found ways to build scoreboard pressure.
The result has been a growing gap between the two teams.
England have looked more settled.
Pakistan have looked reactive.
That difference is precisely what the PCB now appears determined to address.
🏟️ Birmingham Could Become a Turning Point
The third Test in Birmingham is now about much more than avoiding a 3-0 series defeat.
It is about establishing the next version of Pakistan's Test team.
The players coming into the squad have an opportunity to become part of a new core.
Saim Ayub can push his case at the top of the order.
Saad Baig can potentially establish himself as a future wicketkeeper-batter.
Arafat Minhas and the incoming all-rounders can show whether Pakistan have greater depth than the previous squad suggested.
The bowling group can also demonstrate whether a fresh tactical approach can challenge England.
For the senior players, meanwhile, the message is equally clear.
Experience alone will not guarantee selection.
Performance will.
🧠 Cricketory Insight: Is Changing Seven Players Too Aggressive?
From a Cricketory perspective, this is where the debate becomes fascinating.
There is an argument that the PCB has gone too far.
Test cricket is built around stability.
Players need time to develop combinations, understand conditions and establish roles. Removing seven players after two Tests could create more uncertainty rather than solving it.
But there is another side to the argument.
Pakistan were not merely losing narrowly.
They were losing heavily.
When a team suffers two consecutive defeats by huge margins, maintaining exactly the same combination simply because it provides stability can also be dangerous.
The PCB has chosen disruption over continuity.
That is an aggressive decision.
And now the board must accept the consequences.
If the new-look Pakistan side performs well in Birmingham, the overhaul will look bold and decisive.
If Pakistan suffer another heavy defeat, critics will argue that the PCB panicked instead of building a coherent Test strategy.
There is very little middle ground.
🔍 Cricketory Analysis: The Biggest Question Is Batting
Pakistan's biggest concern remains the batting.
The new faces will attract headlines, but the senior players must still carry enormous responsibility.
Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood are among the experienced names remaining in the squad.
They need to set the standard.
Young players cannot be expected to rescue an entire batting order immediately.
If Pakistan want to compete in Birmingham, they need at least one substantial first-innings partnership.
A total around 350 or higher would give their bowlers something meaningful to defend.
But another low first innings could expose the same problems all over again.
The new coaching staff must therefore focus heavily on shot selection, leaving the ball outside off stump, handling movement and building partnerships rather than simply chasing scoring rates.
🌧️ England Conditions Will Test the New Players
Playing Test cricket in England is a serious technical examination.
The Dukes ball can swing, seam and remain dangerous for long periods.
The challenge becomes even greater for inexperienced batters because England's bowlers can maintain pressure through disciplined lines.
Pakistan's newcomers therefore need to understand that surviving the first hour may be more valuable than scoring quickly.
Once the ball becomes older, batting can become easier.
That is where Pakistan need to capitalize.
The same principle applies to their bowlers.
England's batters cannot be allowed to settle.
Pakistan need attacking fields when wickets are possible, but they also need disciplined defensive plans when the pitch becomes easier for batting.
🇵🇰 Updated Pakistan Squad for the Third England Test
The updated squad contains a mixture of experienced names, returning players and emerging talent.
Babar Azam remains captain.
The squad includes Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
This is a dramatically different group from the one that began the series.
The inclusion of two wicketkeeper options also gives the team selection flexibility.
Pakistan now have a chance to construct a combination around the conditions rather than simply relying on the personnel that played the first two Tests.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Pakistan release seven players?
The PCB made major squad changes after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the opening two Tests against England. The changes appear aimed at rebuilding the side for the final Test.
Which players were released?
Imam-ul-Haq, Awais Zafar, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Aga, Aamir Jamal, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad were released from the squad.
Who has been added to Pakistan's squad?
Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran, Razaullah, Mohammad Imran Jr, Saad Baig and Saim Ayub have been brought into the squad.
Who will coach Pakistan in the third Test?
Mike Hesson has been appointed head coach for the third Test, replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed. Ashley Noffke replaces Umar Gul as bowling coach.
When is the third England vs Pakistan Test?
The third and final Test is scheduled to take place in Birmingham from September 9 to September 13.
Why is Saad Baig's selection significant?
Baig enters the squad after being named Player of the Tournament in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, giving him an opportunity to make an impression at international level.
Is Pakistan's series still alive?
No. According to the supplied match context, England have already won the first two Tests, meaning Pakistan cannot win the three-match series. The third Test is therefore about avoiding a series whitewash and rebuilding momentum.
Can Saim Ayub make a difference?
He certainly has the opportunity. His inclusion gives Pakistan another attacking top-order option, but his success will depend on whether he can combine scoring intent with the patience required for Test cricket in English conditions.
🏁 Final Verdict: Pakistan Have Gone All-In
Pakistan have not made cosmetic changes.
They have gone all-in.
Seven players have been released. Two coaches have been removed. Several younger players have been promoted. Saim Ayub returns, Saad Baig gets a major opportunity and Mike Hesson takes charge of a team desperate for a response.
The third Test in Birmingham has therefore become one of the most intriguing matches of Pakistan's England tour.
There is no series victory to chase anymore.
There is no hiding from the results of the first two Tests.
There is only one objective left: show that this Pakistan team can fight.
The PCB has made its decision.
Now the players have to justify it.
If the new-look Pakistan side responds with disciplined batting, aggressive bowling and sharper fielding, Birmingham could become the beginning of a genuine rebuild.
But if England dominate again, questions will become even louder.
For Pakistan cricket, this is no longer just another Test match.
It is an audition for the future.