Trailing 2-0 in the ongoing Test series against England, the
Pakistan Cricket Board has implemented sweeping changes to both its team roster
and coaching staff in an effort to turn things around for the final match.
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| Image Credits: India Today |
Following heavy defeats in the opening two matches—losing by an innings and 103 runs in Leeds, followed by a 194-run defeat at Lord’s—Pakistan has axed seven players from the squad: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad.
The heavy losses highlighted severe batting struggles, with
Pakistan failing to cross the 200-run mark in any of their four innings so far.
These poor results have left them sitting at the bottom of the ICC World Test
Championship standings with a 16.67% points percentage after eight matches.
To inject fresh energy into the side, selectors recalled
seasoned international figures like Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, and Arafat
Minhas. Furthermore, the squad features four uncapped players:
wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig, left-arm pacer Mohammad Imran Jnr, and
pace-bowling all-rounders Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah.
Alongside the playing group, leadership shake-ups have seen
Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul depart. White-ball
head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke will temporarily step in
to manage the team for the third Test, which begins on September 9 at
Edgbaston.
Updated Pakistan Squad for the Third Test:
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.
