Kevin Pietersen Comes up With a Funny Suggestion As Pakistan Reshuffle Squad Ahead of 3rd Test vs England
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has brutally mocked Pakistan's dramatic mid-series squad and coaching changes, suggesting the toss for their third Test should start the night before due to the sheer volume of alterations. This follows Pakistan's humiliating 0-2 deficit to England, with crushing defeats at Headingley and Lord's.
Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has delivered a stinging, sarcastic jab at the Pakistan cricket team, quipping that the toss for their upcoming third Test against England should "start the night before" given the extensive list of changes made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). His comments come in the wake of Pakistan's humiliating 0-2 deficit in the ongoing three-match Test series against England, prompting a significant shake-up within the squad and coaching staff. Pakistan Drop Seven Players, Change Coaches Ahead of 3rd Test vs England in Major Squad Reshuffle.
Kevin Pietersen’s Tweet on Pakistan Squad Reshuffle
When a captain is interviewed before every game, the interviewer asks about changes in their team.
Could be a v v v v long interview for my buddy, Babar!
Maybe the toss should start the night before?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) September 1, 2026
Pietersen's taunt, posted on X (formerly Twitter), targeted Pakistan's Test captain Babar Azam. "When a captain is interviewed before every game, the interviewer asks about changes in their team. Could be a v v v v long interview for my buddy, Babar!" Pietersen wrote, before delivering the punchline: "Maybe the toss should start the night before??"
Pakistan's Drastic Overhaul
The PCB announced sweeping changes on Monday, August 31, 2026, just a day after Pakistan suffered a crushing 194-run defeat to England in the second Test at Lord's. This followed an innings-and-103-run loss in the series opener at Headingley, leaving the visitors in an unassailable 2-0 hole in the series.
Seven players have been released from the Test squad and sent home. This includes prominent figures like wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan (age 34), opener Imam-ul-Haq (age 30), and Salman Ali Agha (age 32), who captained the team in the first Test while Babar Azam was injured. Other players axed are Ali Usman (age 33), Aamir Jamal (age 30), Muhammad Awais Zafar (age 26), and Khurram Shahzad (age 26). Imam-ul-Haq's departure followed an inquiry into a calf injury that prevented him from batting in the second Test.
Beyond the playing XI, the coaching staff also saw significant changes. Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have been relieved of their duties. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who was appointed in May 2025, and Ashley Noffke will step in to manage the Test team for the remainder of the England tour.
Replacements and Squad Composition
Seven new players have been brought into the squad for the third Test, which is scheduled to be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting September 9, 2026.
| Incoming Players | Previous Test Experience |
|---|---|
| Saim Ayub | 8 Tests |
| Abdullah Fazal | 2 Tests |
| Arafat Minhas | 3 ODIs, 4 T20Is (uncapped in Tests) |
| Mohammad Imran Jnr | Uncapped (Left-arm fast bowler) |
| Saad Baig | Uncapped (Wicketkeeper-batter) |
| Mohammad Imran (Randhawa) | Uncapped (Right-arm pace-bowling all-rounder) |
| Razaullah | Uncapped (Right-arm pace-bowling all-rounder) |
A History of Instability
This dramatic mid-series reshuffle is not an isolated incident but rather the latest chapter in Pakistan cricket's ongoing struggles. The team's disappointing performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where they were eliminated in the group stage after unexpected losses to the USA and India, also led to significant criticism and calls for changes. The constant flux in leadership, with Babar Azam experiencing multiple captaincy stints across formats, and reports of rifts within the team, have plagued Pakistan cricket in recent years. Misbah-ul-Haq Resigns From PCB Selection Committee, Steps Down as Batting Consultant.
The bold decisions by the PCB highlight the immense pressure on the team to perform, particularly after successive defeats against England. With a new-look squad and coaching staff, Pakistan will be hoping to salvage some pride in the final Test at Edgbaston.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2026 06:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
