Pakistan’s cricket team has made dramatic changes to its squad and coaching staff following their heavy defeat to England in the ongoing Test series. After losing the first two matches by substantial margins, Pakistan’s cricket board opted to drop seven players and replace the head coach ahead of the third and final Test, scheduled to begin on September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

The touring side suffered innings and 14-run defeat at Headingley, followed by a 194-run loss at Lord’s, with the team dismissed for under 200 runs in each of their four innings so far. In response, five players who featured in the series—Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, and Khurram Shahzad—were excluded from the squad. Additionally, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar, who had not yet played in the series, were sent home.

Pakistan has called up seven new players to bolster the squad. Among them are established Test batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who return to the setup, alongside five uncapped players: spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas, left-arm seamer Mohammed Imran Jr, wicketkeeper Said Baig, and all-rounders Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.

On the coaching front, Pakistan released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul, appointing interim replacements Mike Hesson, the current white-ball coach, and former Australian fast bowler Ashley Noffke. The decision to overhaul the backroom staff mid-series is unusual and underscores the severity of the team’s struggles.

Among those dropped, Salman Ali Agha had captained Pakistan in the first Test in the absence of the injured Babar Azam but was omitted for the subsequent match. Opener Imam-ul-Haq also came under scrutiny after he did not attempt to bat in either innings during the Lord’s Test due to a calf injury sustained while fielding on the opening day.

The team’s poor performance has coincided with off-field tensions. During the second Test, the Pakistan Cricket Board threatened to abandon the match and cancel the tour after an interview aired on Sky involving the sons of Imran Khan. The controversy added to an already difficult tour for the visitors, who now face an uphill task to salvage pride in the final match.