There have been a number of episodes of sweeping modifications within the Pakistan facet over the previous few years however such a large-scale overhaul in between a Take a look at collection for a lifeless rubber is unprecedented.
Unsure what’s the logic or reasoning behind this choice! Even the replacements make no sense – T20 gamers have been included for a Take a look at match in England? What is that this considering and strategy? Why has the coach been axed after 5 Take a look at matches? That is probably the most surprising choice…
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 31, 2026
It was solely the final month that Jamal was recalled to the Take a look at squad for the Take a look at excursions of the Caribbean and UK whereas Usman and Zafar had been handed maiden Take a look at calls. Jamal and Zafar had been solely used within the first Take a look at in opposition to West Indies in Tarouba. However what is especially intriguing is the decision to ship Usman again to Pakistan, even after he bagged his maiden five-for within the second innings at Headingley and have become the primary away spinner to take action on the in any other case seam-friendly venue since 1972.
There have been calls to drop Rizwan due to his diminishing batting returns. Although he displayed distinctive glovework on this tour whereas standing as much as the stumps in opposition to the medium-pace of Mohmmad Abbas, he has struggled with the bat. He made scores of seven and 1 at Lord’s and 12 and 41 at Headingley. He had scored solely 41 runs throughout three innings within the West Indies.
Imam was recognized with a grade-1 tear in his left calf after the conclusion of the primary day’s play at Lord’s and didn’t seem on the sector throughout both of Pakistan’s innings, which attracted extreme scrutiny. He emerged on the Lord’s outfield earlier than the beginning of the fourth day’s play to face light throwdowns from the batting coach together with his injured leg closely strapped. The transfer attracted robust criticism with Stuart Broad, one of many Sky commentators, occurring to counsel it was being achieved for the optics.
Agha, Pakistan’s T20I captain, didn’t play the Lord’s Take a look at as he was dropped after he stood in as a captain at Headingley, ostensibly for the decline in his batting type.
Fazal, initially, was purported to be with the squad within the UK as he was named for the 2 excursions, however the group administration pulled him out of the facet after declaring him unfit on the eve of the Tarouba Take a look at. He was changed by Abdullah Shafique within the second Take a look at who went on to attain a match-winning century, handing Pakistan their first away win within the format since July 2023.
Ayub has not performed for Pakistan for the reason that T20 World Cup earlier this 12 months and had been neglected for choice throughout all codecs due to considerations round his health. He was deemed to have been carrying an damage and underwent a rehabilitation programme on the Hanif Mohammad Centre in Karachi. He’s presently taking part in for Jamaica Kingsmen within the CPL and made a century in opposition to Patriots final week. However, he has performed solely two first-class matches, which had been within the final 12 months’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, since his final Take a look at in January 2025 by which he sustained an ankle fracture.
Among the many uncapped gamers, left-arm orthodox Minhas is the one participant to have performed worldwide cricket. He made his debut in opposition to Australia in an ODI in Could this 12 months and earned the player-of-the-match award on a pitch which favoured the spinners closely.
Baig, the Karachi-born wicketkeeper-batter, was the participant of the event within the final version of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy after ending as the very best run-scorer. He’s now the second wicketkeeper within the squad which already contains Ghazi Ghori, who has been touring with the Take a look at facet for the reason that Bangladesh collection.
Among the many three uncapped quick bowlers, Randhawa is probably the most skilled bowler with 58 first-class appearances. Razaullah made his first-class debut within the final season and has performed eight matches. Imran Jnr, who made his first-class debut in November 2022, has performed solely eight first-class matches within the final three seasons.
The present teaching set-up with Sarfaraz on the helm was solely appointed in April forward of an away collection in opposition to Bangladesh and this was the previous Pakistan captain’s solely third collection within the position. Identical was the case for Gul. Previous to this collection, Pakistan had changed Asad Shafiq with Mike Smith within the batting coach’s capability.
The defeat at Lord’s was Pakistan’s fifteenth within the final 20 Exams. They presently sit on the backside of the World Take a look at Championship standings, which is precisely the place they completed the final cycle.
Pakistan Take a look at squad for Birmingham Take a look at: Babar Azam (capt), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk) Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Ubaid Shah
Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi is a cricket journalist based mostly in Lahore
