In an unusual move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday (August 31, 2026) decided to send seven members of its touring Test squad home and replace them with a fresh set of players ahead of the third and final match against England.
The third and final Test is scheduled to begin on September 9. The other four players include left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Imran Jnr, wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig, who was the Player of the Tournament in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and right-arm pace-bowling all-rounders Mohammad Imran, also known as Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah. Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have all been released from the squad, the PCB announced.
The sweeping changes come after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests at Leeds and Lord’s. The players will join the Pakistan squad ahead of the third Test in Birmingham. 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. PTI Cor AH