Pakistan Likely Playing XI for England Test: Check Predicted 11 for PAK vs ENG Cricket Match in Birmingham
Ahead of the ENG vs PAK 3rd Test at Edgbaston on September 9, 2026, Pakistan has drastically altered its coaching staff, bringing in seven new faces, including five uncapped players, under returning captain Babar Azam. Adding to the sweeping changes, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been relieved of their duties.
Birmingham is set to host a radically reshaped Pakistan side as they face England in the third and final Test of the series, starting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Edgbaston. With the series already conceded to England, who hold an unassailable 2-0 lead through an innings and 103-run victory at Headingley and a 194-run win at Lord's, the 'dead rubber' fixture has prompted Pakistan to implement one of their most significant squad overhauls in recent Test history. Pakistan Drop Seven Players, Change Coaches Ahead of 3rd Test vs England in Major Squad Reshuffle.
Seven players – Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad – have been released from the squad. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been relieved of their duties. Mike Hesson will take interim charge of the Test side, joined by former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke.
Hesson has clearly articulated his vision, stating, "Pakistan is known for the pace, unusual actions, and mystery spin; we haven't really been able to present any of that." He emphasized the need for "a balanced squad… so we actually have some variety in our attack." This strategic shift aims to inject fresh talent and diverse skills into the team.
Pakistan's Predicted XI: A Youth Movement Led by Babar Azam
Babar Azam makes a return to lead a squad that is almost unrecognizable from the one that played in the preceding Tests. Saim Ayub, with eight Test caps, and Abdullah Fazal, with two, are expected to slot into the top order. Five uncapped players have joined the broader squad, with wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig, named Player of the Tournament in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas, strong contenders for the playing XI. Left-arm seamer Ubaid Shah and off-spinner Sajid Khan also provide the variety Hesson desires.
Likely Pakistan Playing XI:
- Azan Awais
- Abdullah Shafique
- Saim Ayub
- Babar Azam (c)
- Saud Shakeel
- Ghazi Ghori (wk)
- Mohammad Imran Randhawa
- Arafat Minhas
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Abbas
- Ubaid Shah
England Retains Core, Brydon Carse Dropped
For England, the dead rubber offers an opportunity to manage workloads and assess depth, especially with a busy winter ahead. Captain Joe Root's side has made one change, with seamer Brydon Carse left out following an incident outside a Derby nightclub during the second Test. However, the core of the team that has dominated the series is expected to remain intact. Birmingham Weather Forecast and Rain Chances for Pakistan vs England 3rd Test 2026 at Edgbaston.
Ollie Robinson, whose impressive match figures of 8 for 80 at Lord's put him past Jasprit Bumrah for the best Test bowling average of any bowler with at least 20 Tests since the First World War, is a certainty in the pace attack. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson are set to complete a formidable seam trio that has consistently troubled Pakistan's batters.
The bold strategy by Pakistan signals a clear intent for a fresh start and a focus on future talent, even if it comes amidst a series defeat. This Edgbaston clash could offer a crucial glimpse into the future direction of Pakistan Test cricket.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 08, 2026 01:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
