Birmingham: Pakistan have made a sweeping overhaul of their Test set-up after losing the series to England, releasing seven players and two members of the coaching staff ahead of the third and final Test at Edgbaston.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on August 31 that Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have been released from the Test squad.Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also departed their roles. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke will oversee the team for the final Test.

England take 2-0 lead

The changes follow two heavy defeats for Pakistan.England won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, before completing a 194-run victory at Lord's on August 30 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Pakistan's batting has been the biggest concern. The team has failed to score 200 runs in any of its four innings in the series so far.At Lord's, Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in their first innings and 194 in the second. Saud Shakeel's 97 was the standout effort in the second innings, while Mohammad Abbas claimed nine wickets in the match.

Seven players released

The most prominent names to leave the squad include wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha.Imam was unavailable for Pakistan's second innings at Lord's after suffering a calf injury. Rizwan and Salman have also been left out as the PCB looks to introduce fresh options for the final Test.The other players released are Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.

Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal among replacements

Pakistan have added seven players to the squad, including Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal and Arafat Minhas.Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig has also been included, along with Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah. Several of the newcomers are yet to play Test cricket, giving the selectors an opportunity to test inexperienced players in the final match.

Hesson takes charge of Test side

The coaching changes are equally significant.Mike Hesson, who normally oversees Pakistan's white-ball teams, will now take charge of the Test side for the Edgbaston match. Former Australia fast bowler Ashley Noffke will replace Umar Gul as bowling coach.Sarfaraz had only taken over as Pakistan's Test head coach in April, meaning his tenure in the role has ended after a short stint.

Third Test starts September 9

The third Test will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9 to 13.With England already 2-0 ahead, Pakistan's immediate objective will be to avoid a series clean sweep and find some stability after the dramatic changes.The revised Pakistan squad is:Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas,Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.

The Pakistan cricket team may have secured their spot in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, but the celebrations are being overshadowed by signs of internal friction. During their must-win Group A clash against Namibia in Colombo, a viral video captured a tense, animated discussion between captain Salman Agha and head coach Mike Hesson, leaving fans questioning the stability of the team's leadership.

The incident occurred shortly after Salman Agha was dismissed for a brisk 38 off 23 balls. As he returned to the dugout, cameras caught him in a heated exchange with Hesson. In a moment of visible frustration, Agha was seen throwing a water bottle to the ground while gesturing emphatically.

Babar Azam Caught in the Middle

Perhaps more telling than the argument itself was the reaction—or lack thereof—from former captain Babar Azam. Seated directly between the sparring captain and coach, Babar appeared visibly uncomfortable, staring straight ahead and remaining silent throughout the ordeal.

This "awkward" positioning comes amid a tactical reshuffle that saw Babar demoted from his usual No. 4 spot against Namibia. With star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi also dropped for the fixture, rumors are swirling that the Pakistan cricket team is undergoing a silent but turbulent power shift behind the scenes.

On-Field Success Amidst Off-Field Drama

Despite the dugout fireworks, Pakistan delivered a clinical performance on the pitch. Driven by a historic maiden T20I century from Sahibzada Farhan (100 off 58), the Men in Green posted a massive 199/3.

The bowlers then took over, with Usman Tariq (4/16) and Shadab Khan (3/19) dismantling the Namibian lineup for just 97 runs. This 102-run victory officially made Pakistan the final team to join the Super 8s, where they are set to face:

• New Zealand

• England

• Sri Lanka

Shadab Khan Fires Back at Critics

The tension isn't limited to the dugout. Following the team's crushing 61-run loss to India earlier in the week, several Pakistani legends called for a complete overhaul of the squad. All-rounder Shadab Khan addressed these critiques head-on after the Namibia win.

"Everyone has their own opinions. Since I came back, one bad over led to a lot of criticism, but I don't need to justify that," Shadab stated.

He further took a subtle swipe at former greats by reminding them that the current crop of players achieved a feat many "legends" never could: defeating India in a World Cup (referencing the 2021 victory).

Why This Matters Now

For a team known for "unpredictability," the current friction between Salman Agha and Mike Hesson comes at a dangerous time. While the win against Namibia keeps their title hopes alive, history shows that internal rifts often lead to collapses in the high-pressure environment of the Super 8s.