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Home News Babar Azam Surprised by Pakistan's Squad Changes Before Third Test

Babar Azam Surprised by Pakistan's Squad Changes Before Third Test

Sep 8, 2026
57 min
10
Sep 8, 2026 20:31
It was news to me too: Babar Azam on Pakistan’s squad overhaul

## Unexpected Squad Overhaul

Pakistan's cricket captain, Babar Azam, expressed surprise over the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to revamp the squad ahead of the third Test against England. The team is trailing 0-2 in the series after significant losses in the first two matches.

## Major Changes Announced

The PCB released seven players, including key batsmen Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha. Other players like Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad were also dropped. Additionally, the coaching staff saw changes with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul.

## Babar's Reaction

Babar Azam stated that he was not involved in the decision-making process and learned of the changes after they were made. Despite the surprise, he sees it as a chance for new players to prove themselves.

## Looking Forward

Babar defended the initial team selections, attributing the losses to poor performance in batting, bowling, and fielding rather than team composition. He mentioned that the squad for the third Test at Edgbaston is nearly finalized, with 12 players shortlisted, and the final lineup will be decided after assessing the conditions.

Read the full story at the source

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