Pakistan Drop Seven Players and Change Coaches Before Third England Test

Pakistan have dropped seven players, called up five uncapped replacements and released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed following two heavy Test defeats by England. BBC Sport reported that the changes apply before the third and final match of the series, which begins at Edgbaston in Birmingham on September 9.

Watch the highlights:

Five of those leaving the squad have played during the series: Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad. Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar have also been sent home without making an appearance. Salman captained Pakistan in the first Test while Babar Azam was injured, then was dropped for the second match.

Pakistan have added seven players in total. Batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have previous Test experience, while Arafat Minhas, Mohammed Imran Jr, Said Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah are uncapped. BBC Sport identified Minhas as a spin-bowling all-rounder, Mohammed Imran Jr as a left-arm seamer and Baig as a wicketkeeper.

The changes extend to the backroom staff. Sarfaraz and assistant coach Umar Gul have been released, with Pakistan's white-ball coach Mike Hesson and former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke taking their places. The reshuffle comes with England already holding an unassailable lead after one-sided victories in the opening two Tests.

Pakistan lost the first Test at Headingley by an innings before England won the second at Lord's by 194 runs. The tourists were dismissed for fewer than 200 in all four innings across those matches. The sequence leaves the reworked squad with one match remaining to respond, although the series itself is already beyond Pakistan's reach.

Imam-ul-Haq was among the most prominent players omitted after suffering a calf injury while fielding on the opening day at Lord's and not batting in either innings. The scale of the response is highly unusual for a touring team during a series, but every personnel change reported by BBC Sport is in place before the Edgbaston finale.