On Monday, August 31, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released seven players after suffering a Test series defeat to England away from home. PCB also sacked the Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul with immediate effect.
PCB revealed in its media statement that Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have been asked to return home.
The PCB will bring in seven replacements. Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah have been added to the updated Pakistan Test squad.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has today announced that seven players have been released from the Test squad following completion of the Lord’s Test,” the PCB wrote in its official statement.
“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 statement read.
“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.”
On the other hand, Sarfaraz and Gul will be replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.
“The players will join the Pakistan squad ahead of the third Test against England. 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 statement added.
Pakistan’s updated Test squad for the third Test vs England:
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
