PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026: Match Preview, Pitch Report and Full Details

The PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026 starts on Wednesday, September 9, at Edgbaston in Birmingham. This is the final match of Pakistan’s three-Test tour of England, and it’s also Pakistan’s first Test tour of England since 2020. England already lead the series 2-0, so the result won’t change the series outcome. But Pakistan will fight hard to avoid a 3-0 whitewash and salvage some pride.

This Test has turned into one of the most talked-about matches of the year for the wrong reasons. Pakistan has dropped seven players from its squad, the chief selector has resigned in protest, and former stars have slammed the decision publicly. Here’s everything you need to know about the PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026.

PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026: Match Details

Series So Far: How England Took a 2-0 Lead

Pakistan came into this tour under new Test captain Babar Azam, but a hand injury in a warm-up match ruled him out of the series opener. Salman Ali Agha led the side in his place for that match.

• 1st Test, Headingley (Leeds): England crushed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs. Pakistan folded twice, for 171 and then 135 in just 37.3 overs. It was one of the fastest wins of Joe Root’s captaincy career, and a perfect start to his second stint in charge.
• 2nd Test, Lord’s: England won again, this time by 194 runs. Ollie Robinson bowled Pakistan out almost single-handedly, finishing with 8 wickets in the match. Mohammad Abbas gave Pakistan something to cheer with a five-wicket haul, but the batting still crumbled to 110 and 194 for 9. The win handed England an unassailable 2-0 lead and was their first Test series victory since late 2024.

Pakistan’s four innings scores this series read 171, 135, 110, and 194 for 9 — they haven’t crossed 200 even once.

Pakistan’s Big Squad Shake-Up Before Edgbaston

Pakistan have released seven players and two coaches ahead of the PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026, an unusual move to make midway through a series.

Players sent home:

• Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
• Imam-ul-Haq (injured at Lord’s)
• Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain)
• Ali Usman
• Aamir Jamal
• Muhammad Awais Zafar
• Khurram Shahzad

Coaching changes: Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul are both out. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke step in to guide the side through the final Test.

New faces in the squad: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah. Five of these players have never played Test cricket before.

The fallout has been messy:

• Former chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the national selection committee, reportedly after being left out of the loop on the changes.
• Shahid Afridi publicly called it one of the most shocking selection decisions Pakistan cricket has ever made.
• The PCB has separately asked its selectors for a written explanation over why Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were picked for this tour in the first place.

The numbers explain the panic. Pakistan’s overall Test win-loss ratio has dropped below 1.00 for the first time in nearly 40 years, and the team currently sits at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 table.

Edgbaston Pitch Report

Fast bowlers love bowling at Edgbaston, and this surface is unlikely to be any different. Batters can cash in early while the pitch is fresh, but cracks tend to open up from around day three, giving the quicks something extra to work with. Don’t expect big turn for the spinners — they’ll mostly aim at rough footmarks outside off stump rather than rip the ball sideways. Edgbaston pitches usually deteriorate fast, so a result inside four days looks the likely outcome here too.

Weather Update for Birmingham

The latest Met Office update points to drier weather and lighter winds moving into the Test, which is good news for a full five days of cricket. Birmingham in September is generally mild, with the occasional rain shower, so a brief interruption on one of the days can’t be fully ruled out.

PAK vs ENG Head-to-Head Record in Tests

Pakistan haven’t won a Test series in England since 1996. They managed draws there in 2016 and 2018 before losing the 2020 series.

PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026: Probable Playing 11

England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Arafat Minhas, Saad Baig (wk), Sajid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Ubaid Shah

A couple of things worth tracking before the toss:

• Pakistan’s wicketkeeper spot is still up for grabs between Saad Baig and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori. Baig, who was Player of the Tournament in the last Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, looks the likely pick.
• Babar Azam was reportedly carrying a fever in the build-up, so his fitness is worth double-checking closer to the toss.

England, meanwhile, have kept things settled, leaving out Brydon Carse and Matthew Fisher from their squad.

Key Players to Watch

• Joe Root (England): Batting in career-best form since taking back the England captaincy.
• Harry Brook (England): England’s most dangerous batter right now, scoring at a strike rate near 83 in recent Tests.
• Jofra Archer & Ollie Robinson (England): Have shared the new ball brilliantly all series and should relish a fresh, bouncy Edgbaston pitch.
• Babar Azam (Pakistan): Back in the XI and captaining, and badly needs runs to steady a struggling batting order.
• Saud Shakeel (Pakistan): Fought hard for 97 at Lord’s and is currently Pakistan’s most dependable batter.
• Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan): The one bowler who has consistently troubled England, with a five-wicket haul already this series.

PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026: Match Prediction

England enter this match as clear favourites. They have a settled XI, a red-hot bowling attack, and home conditions that suit them perfectly. Pakistan, meanwhile, are working with a heavily reshuffled squad, five uncapped players, and a selection crisis unfolding back home.

That said, dead rubbers can spring surprises. New players sometimes bat and bowl with freedom they wouldn’t show under normal pressure, and Mohammad Abbas has already proven he can hurt England’s batting line-up. A weather interruption could also help Pakistan escape with a draw. Still, on current form, England look set to complete a 3-0 series sweep.

How to Watch PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026 Live

Free highlights are also available on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer for viewers in the UK.

FAQs: PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026

When does the PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026 start? The match starts on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, and is scheduled to run through September 13.

Where is the PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026 being played? The match is being played at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

What is the series score before the 3rd Test? England lead the three-match series 2-0 after wins at Headingley and Lord’s.

Why did Pakistan make so many squad changes? Pakistan dropped seven players, including Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, after losing the first two Tests. The PCB also replaced its head coach and bowling coach ahead of the final match.

Who is Pakistan’s captain for this Test? Babar Azam leads Pakistan, having missed the first Test through injury.

Where can fans in Pakistan watch the match live? Fans in Pakistan can watch on PTV Sports and Ten Sports, or stream the match on Tapmad, Tamasha, and Myco.

Final Thoughts

The PAK vs ENG 3rd Test 2026 is more than just the final match of the series for Pakistan. It is an opportunity for the team to respond after two heavy defeats and show that it can compete against England in difficult overseas conditions.

England will enter Edgbaston with confidence after taking a 2-0 lead. Pakistan, meanwhile, have made major changes to their squad and coaching setup and will hope the fresh faces can produce a better performance.