Interim coach Mike Hesson adjusts Pakistan squad for third England Test
5 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 7:07 PM
Last updated Sep 4, 2026
Interim head coach Mike Hesson has finalized a revised Pakistan squad for the third Test against England at Edgbaston, which begins on 9 September. Pakistan enters the match seeking to avoid a 3-0 series sweep after two losses. The team leadership made extensive changes, dropping seven players including Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha. To replace them, the selection panel added two experienced batters and five uncapped players to balance the attack. Hesson, who replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed on a temporary basis, arrived in the UK to manage the squad after a brief stint in Japan. He addressed concerns regarding the team's composition and denied claims that specific dropped players refused to attend an audience with King Charles.
- •Pakistan made seven changes to the squad ahead of the final Test at Edgbaston.
- •Five uncapped players were called up to provide depth and variety in the attack.
- •The third Test between Pakistan and England is scheduled for 9 September.
- •Mike Hesson replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed as interim head coach for the series finale.
- 7:07 PMYahoo Sports — Pakistan coach Mike Hesson breaks silence on mid-England series shake-up, says 'I really don’t know what happened'
- 3:37 PMYahoo Sports — Coach Hesson says Pakistan players are more used to the 'chaos' than he is
- 2:51 PMThe Guardian Sport — Stand-in head coach Hesson hopes for reset and to restore Pakistan’s identity
- 1:21 PMBBC Sport — Pakistan players used to 'chaos' - head coach Hesson
"Mike Hesson had only been in the UK to meet the king Interim picks up the pieces after seven players sent home Mike Hesson was only in the UK this week to meet King Charles. But now the New Zealander finds himself interim head coach of a Pakistan Test side that have sent seven players and his predecessor home. As Hesson put it after his first net session: “The guys are probably more used to a little bit of chaos than I am.” Even by Pakistan’s standards, this past week has been more than a little chaotic, with their somewhat nuclear response to going 2-0 down to England the talk of the sport. Hesson, previously Pakistan’s white-ball coach, has been parachuted in to restore some pride in the third Test at Edgbaston that starts next week. Continue reading...
"Pakistan interim red-ball cricket coach Mike Hesson believes his players are more used to the “chaos” than him after the Pakistan Cricket Board dropped seven players for next week’s dead rubber against England. “The last couple of days have been challenging for being in a hotel with some players coming, some players going and then the arrival of everyone,” Hesson told reporters on Friday. Pakistan made sweeping changes in a knee-jerk reaction to its two brutal defeats at Lord’s and Headingley in the first two tests of the three-match series.
"Mike Hesson, the interim coach for Pakistan, has refuted any claims of his involvement in the decision to send home senior players. He clarified that Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Imam-ul-Haq had already departed. Hesson is now focused on fine-tuning the squad for the final Test, emphasizing a well-rounded bowling lineup with greater diversity, while integrating new talent to enhance team balance.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 7:07 PMPakistan coach Mike Hesson breaks silence on mid-England series shake-up, says 'I really don’t know what happened'
Mike Hesson, the interim coach for Pakistan, has refuted any claims of his involvement in the decision to send home senior players. He clarified that Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Imam-ul-Haq had already departed. Hesson is now focused on fine-tuning the squad for the final Test, emphasizing a well-rounded bowling lineup with greater diversity, while integrating new talent to enhance team balance.
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 3:37 PMCoach Hesson says Pakistan players are more used to the 'chaos' than he is
Pakistan interim red-ball cricket coach Mike Hesson believes his players are more used to the “chaos” than him after the Pakistan Cricket Board dropped seven players for next week’s dead rubber against England. “The last couple of days have been challenging for being in a hotel with some players coming, some players going and then the arrival of everyone,” Hesson told reporters on Friday. Pakistan made sweeping changes in a knee-jerk reaction to its two brutal defeats at Lord’s and Headingley in the first two tests of the three-match series.
- The Guardian SportSep 4, 2026, 2:51 PMStand-in head coach Hesson hopes for reset and to restore Pakistan’s identity
Mike Hesson had only been in the UK to meet the king Interim picks up the pieces after seven players sent home Mike Hesson was only in the UK this week to meet King Charles. But now the New Zealander finds himself interim head coach of a Pakistan Test side that have sent seven players and his predecessor home. As Hesson put it after his first net session: “The guys are probably more used to a little bit of chaos than I am.” Even by Pakistan’s standards, this past week has been more than a little chaotic, with their somewhat nuclear response to going 2-0 down to England the talk of the sport. Hesson, previously Pakistan’s white-ball coach, has been parachuted in to restore some pride in the third Test at Edgbaston that starts next week. Continue reading...
- BBC SportSep 4, 2026, 1:21 PMPakistan players used to 'chaos' - head coach Hesson
Interim Pakistan coach Mike Hesson says his players are used to “chaos” after the tourists dropped seven players and called up seven others for the final Test against England.
- Sky Sports—Pakistan 'used to chaos', says coach Hesson, as he searches for 'x-factor'
Interim head coach Mike Hesson says Pakistan are used to a "a little bit of chaos" as they aim to end a sobering tour of England on a high in the final Test after a week of dramatic upheaval.
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