Pakistan Drop Seven Players and Replace Coaches After England Defeats

Pakistan have overhauled their Test squad and coaching staff after losing the first two matches of their three-Test series in England. BBC Sport reported that seven players have been dropped and sent home before the final Test at Edgbaston, while seven replacements have joined the touring party. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul have also been released from their roles.

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Five of the departing players appeared in the first two Tests: Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad. Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar will also return home without having played in the series. The changes follow defeats at Headingley and Lord's that left England with an unassailable lead.

Pakistan have recalled batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, both of whom have previous Test experience. Five uncapped players have also received call-ups: spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas, left-arm seamer Mohammed Imran Jr, wicketkeeper Said Baig, and all-rounders Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.

White-ball coach Mike Hesson will replace Sarfaraz for the remainder of the tour, with former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke taking over from Gul as assistant coach. According to the BBC report, the third and final Test is scheduled to begin in Birmingham on 9 September.

The scale of the changes comes after two decisive losses. Pakistan were beaten by an innings in the opening Test at Headingley and then lost by 194 runs at Lord's. Their batting has been a persistent problem during the series, with the team dismissed for fewer than 200 in all four innings across the two matches.

Salman captained Pakistan in the first Test while Babar Azam was injured, but was omitted for the second match. Imam sustained a calf injury while fielding on the opening day at Lord's and did not attempt to bat in either innings. Former Pakistan captain and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja told BBC Radio 5 Live that he was unhappy with the overhaul and questioned whether the incoming players could deliver immediate results.