Pakistan Replace Coach Sarfaraz and Seven Players Ahead of Third England Test

Pakistan has overhauled its Test squad and coaching staff after two heavy defeats left the team struggling against England.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday that seven players had been sent home, including former captains Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha. Opener Imam ul-Haq was also replaced after suffering a tear in his left calf.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, appointed as Pakistan’s Test head coach in April, has been replaced by Mike Hesson, who coaches the country’s white-ball team. The changes follow an innings-and-103-run defeat in the first Test and a 194-run loss at Lord’s in the second.

Pakistan’s batting failed to reach 200 in any innings across the two matches. Saud Shakeel came closest to a century, scoring 97 while trying to save the team from defeat at Lord’s.

Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were also sent home. Replacements include batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, along with left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas. Uncapped players Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Junior, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah could make their Test debuts in Birmingham, where the third match begins on September 9.