Pakistan - Overseas Cricket Series

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Six players called up after England losses​

Rizwan to return home over poor form, Hesson to take charge in third Test

Saleem Khaliq
August 31, 2026

LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly lost patience following the team's below-par performance on the England tour.

In an emergency move, six players have been called up from Pakistan including Saim Ayub and Arafat Minhas. The remaining players will travel once they receive their visas.

Questions have also been raised over Imam-ul-Haq's ‘suspicious injury’. He was expected to come out to bat on Sunday at Lord’s under difficult circumstances, but despite receiving pain-killing injections, he did not take part in the match.

Along with Imam, Mohammad Rizwan has reportedly also been decided to return home because of irresponsible batting and poor form.

Meanwhile, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson will take charge of the team for the third Test, while former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed will remain with the squad.

Pakistan have already lost the series after defeats in the first two Tests. The third Test against England is scheduled to begin on September 9.

The development comes following Pakistan’s pathetic batting display at Lord’s on Sunday where while chasing 389 Pakistan were folded for 194 and thus lost the Test by 194 runs.

Barring Saud Shakeel’s fighting knock of 97 no other Pakistani batsman could resist in seaming conditions where Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and a man with express pace Jofra Archer ripped through Pakistan’s batting within no time.

Robinson took eight wickets in the match, reaching 16 in the series.

In the first Test at Headingley England had defeated Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs.

Sports Desk added: According to reports the six players who have been called up also include fast bowlers Razaullah and Imran Junior.

 

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England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test at Birmingham,​

ENG vs PAK, Sep 08 2026 - Live Cricket Score​

Pakistan
(42.2 ov) 133 & 193/3

England
453
Day 3 - Session 2: Pakistan trail by 127 runs.

Current RR: 4.55
• Min. Ov. Rem: 68.4

Last 10 ov (RR): 57/0 (5.70)

 

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Shan Masood 95, Babar Azam 76 as Pakistan find their fight​

England picked up two more wickets between lunch and tea, but the deficit was down to just 23

Valkerie Baynes
Sep 11, 2026,



Babar Azam celebrates his first fifty of the series • Getty Images

Tea Pakistan 133 and 297 for 5 (Shakeel 29*, Ghori 6*) trail England 453 by 23 runs

From wanting it to be over to feeling sorry for Shan Masood to a sense of awe at Dan Lawrence's screamer - so many emotions in one moment.

As refreshing as it was to see Pakistan put up the fight they had failed to muster all series thanks to Masood, who shared two significant partnerships with Azan Awais and Babar Azam, the depths they had plunged to in this match meant Friday's performance smacked of prolonging the inevitable.
Still, it was heartbreaking to see Masood fall five runs shy of his century.

That it was because Lawrence had the presence of mind to curl his right wrist upwards while diving at full stretch with the ball hanging in his fingertips millimetres from the turf, well, you just had to be at peace with what had unfolded.