Pakistan drops seven players ahead of final cricket Test against England
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 4:39 AM
Last updated Sep 4, 2026
Pakistan has excluded seven players from its squad for the final Test against England, which begins at Edgbaston on September 9. The team currently trails 2-0 in the series following losses at Headingley and Lord's. Those axed include Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul have also been removed, with Mike Hesson taking charge of the side for the remainder of the tour. Aaqib Javed, the Pakistan Cricket Board's director of high performance, stated that an inquiry will be conducted regarding Imam-ul-Haq's unavailability for the second Test. Only two of the seven replacements named have previous experience at the Test level.
- •Pakistan trails 2-0 in the Test series entering the final match at Edgbaston.
- •Seven players including Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were dropped from the squad.
- •Mike Hesson replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed as head coach for the tour finale.
- •The Pakistan Cricket Board is conducting an inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq's fitness status.
- 4:39 AMYahoo Sports — ‘What they’ve done is laughable’: Nasser Hussain says Pakistan have made things ‘even worse’ after PCB’s Test team shake-up
"Nasser Hussain has criticised Pakistan's dramatic changes ahead of the final Test against England and feels the cricket board's decisions have made the team a "laughing stock."
"After Aaqib Javed's public call-out to those laughing at Pakistan, former English skipper Nasser Hussain quickly reminded and reasserted his position.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 4:39 AM‘What they’ve done is laughable’: Nasser Hussain says Pakistan have made things ‘even worse’ after PCB’s Test team shake-up
After Aaqib Javed's public call-out to those laughing at Pakistan, former English skipper Nasser Hussain quickly reminded and reasserted his position.
- Sky Sports—Pakistan's cricket crisis: Have radical changes made side 'a laughing stock'?
Nasser Hussain has criticised Pakistan's dramatic changes ahead of the final Test against England and feels the cricket board's decisions have made the team a "laughing stock."
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