Pak vs Eng 3rd Test 2026: Pakistan Rebuild in Chaos Ahead of Edgbaston Series Finale
The Pak vs Eng 3rd Test 2026 was always going to be a dead rubber. England wrapped up the three-match series 2-0 after back-to-back thumpings at Headingley and Lord’s, so the trophy is already decided. But in the days before the teams get to Edgbaston, the story has had almost nothing to do with cricket. Pakistan have torn up their squad, sacked their head coach, and lost a senior selector along the way — with a Test match still left to play.
Here’s everything you need to know before the two sides walk out in Birmingham on September 9.
How Pakistan Got Here
The tour started badly and went downhill from there. At Headingley, Joe Root marked his first Test back as full-time England captain with a statement win. Harry Brook (91), Jordan Cox (73), Root (66) and Dan Lawrence (51) all got among the runs, and then England’s pace attack did the rest.
Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson shared 16 wickets between them across the match, bowling Pakistan out for 171 and then 135 to seal victory by an innings and 103 runs inside three days. Babar Azam missed that game through injury, leaving Salman Ali Agha to captain Pakistan in Tests for the first time — a tough introduction that drew heavy criticism once the result was in.
Babar returned for Lord’s, but the result barely changed. England put up 290 and 208, and Pakistan were bowled out for 110 and 194 in reply, losing by 194 runs. Opener Imam-ul-Haq added to the misery, picking up a calf strain while fielding on day one and taking no further part in the match.
Two Tests, two heavy defeats, and Pakistan still haven’t passed 200 in a single innings this series.
Seven Players Dropped, a Coach Sacked, and a Selector Walks Out
What happened next made bigger headlines than any of the cricket. With the series already lost, the Pakistan Cricket Board tore up the squad ahead of Edgbaston. Seven players were sent home: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed from their posts, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson and Australian bowling coach Ashley Noffke stepping in for the final Test.
Five uncapped players have come into the squad — Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah — alongside recalls for Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal. Baig’s call-up has raised a few eyebrows given his strong recent domestic form, and it will be worth watching whether he gets the gloves ahead of Muhammad Ghazi Ghori.
The shake-up hasn’t gone down well inside Pakistan cricket. Selector Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from the national selection committee, reportedly because he wasn’t consulted before the overhaul was announced, and he has also stepped back from his role as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Former Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur was blunt in his reaction, calling the timing bizarre and the treatment of Sarfaraz disrespectful. Former selector Tauseef Ahmed went further, describing the changes as unjust and warning they’d created a toxic mood around the squad. Even former England batter Kevin Pietersen couldn’t resist a jab at Babar Azam’s pre-match toss interview on social media — a sign of just how much attention this squad reshuffle has pulled away from the cricket itself.
Pakistan Squad for the Edgbaston Test
Babar Azam captains a squad that looks very different from the one that started the tour:
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Abdullah Fazal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Arafat Minhas
- Azan Awais
- Mohammad Abbas
- Mohammad Ali
- Muhammad Imran
- Mohammad Imran Jnr
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper)
- Razaullah
- Saad Baig (wicketkeeper)
- Saim Ayub
- Sajid Khan
- Saud Shakeel
- Shan Masood
- Ubaid Shah
With Rizwan gone, Pakistan need a new gloveman, and it looks like a straight fight between Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig for that spot in the XI.
England Have Their Own New Era Underway
It isn’t only Pakistan going through change. This series marked the start of Joe Root’s second spell as England Test captain, after Ben Stokes stepped away from international cricket mid-series against New Zealand back in June. Marcus Trescothick is in interim charge as coach until Stephen Fleming takes over ahead of England’s winter tour to South Africa.
England haven’t fully replaced what Stokes gave them in the middle order — Dan Lawrence has filled the all-rounder’s role for now — but the bowling attack hasn’t missed a beat without him. Ollie Robinson has been the standout performer of the series, and Root himself will be keen to post a bigger score at Edgbaston after a quieter series by his own lofty standards.
Interest in the match remains strong even with the series already settled. Edgbaston has reported limited tickets left across all five days, with day three close to a sellout.
When and Where to Watch
- Match: 3rd Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026
- Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Dates: Wednesday, September 9 – Sunday, September 13, 2026
- First ball: 11:00 am local time each day
- TV: Live on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK
What to Expect
On paper, this looks one-sided. England go in full of confidence, while Pakistan are rebuilding on the fly with five uncapped players and a squad that has barely had time to settle. But Test cricket rarely follows the script, and Pakistan have nothing left to lose — only pride to play for. Babar Azam will be desperate to avoid the indignity of a 3-0 whitewash, and a young, hungry batting line-up might play with more freedom than a settled one would.
Still, England will start as clear favourites to complete the clean sweep. Whether Pakistan can turn the chaos of the last few days into some kind of rallying point is the real story of this Test.
FAQs: Pak vs Eng 3rd Test 2026
When does the Pak vs Eng 3rd Test 2026 start?
The match begins on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, and is scheduled to run through Sunday, September 13.
Where is the Pak vs Eng 3rd Test 2026 being played?
The match is being played at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England.
What is the score in the Pakistan vs England Test series 2026?
England lead the three-match series 2-0, having won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs and the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs.
Who is captaining Pakistan in the 3rd Test?
Babar Azam leads a heavily changed Pakistan squad after seven players were dropped ahead of the Edgbaston Test.
Final Thoughts
The Pak vs Eng 3rd Test 2026 is more than just the final game of a Test series.
For England, it is a chance to complete a clean sweep.
For Pakistan, it is a chance to save some pride and finish the tour with a positive result.
The biggest question will be whether Pakistan’s new-look team can solve the batting problems that have hurt them throughout the series.
The action starts at Edgbaston on September 9, 2026.
Cricket fans around the world will be watching to see whether England complete a 3–0 victory or Pakistan can produce one final surprise.