Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed surprise at the extensive changes made to his squad ahead of the third and final Test against England, stating on Wednesday that he was not consulted about the reshuffle. The revisions followed heavy defeats in the opening two Tests at Headingley and Lord’s, which resulted in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sending seven players home before the conclusion of the tour. Additionally, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were dismissed from their roles.

The PCB introduced seven new players into the squad, including five with no previous Test experience. Mike Hesson, the white-ball coach, along with assistant Ashley Noffke, were appointed to oversee the team at Edgbaston for this week’s match.

“It was news to me,” Azam said at a pre-match press conference. “I found out after. The PCB decided it, so they will be able to explain better. The PCB’s decision must have been taken after some thought process. It’s better if you ask them why. It’s an opportunity for us as a group and a team.”

Azam acknowledged that the series had effectively been lost but emphasized the importance of playing without pressure. “We have nothing to lose. We should play freely and believe in ourselves as a team,” he said.

The Pakistan team has struggled through the series, failing to reach a team total of 200 in four innings, and Azam has not recorded a Test century in nearly four years. Nonetheless, the 31-year-old captain encouraged the newcomers to make the most of their opportunity.

“It’s an opportunity for the new boys and a chance to showcase their talent. Any young player who comes in is excited, and that excitement is visible. I believe that will be visible in the match, too,” Azam added.

He stressed the need to focus on the future rather than dwelling on earlier failures, highlighting the importance of performing under challenging conditions. “I firmly believe you need to grab opportunities and perform in difficult conditions. That’s why we play cricket, because we have to perform and dominate in difficult conditions. We need to forget about past failures and shift focus to the future.”