Pakistan spring major Test shake-up, release seven players

There has been a major shake-up in the Pakistan Test team, with seven players released from the touring squad in England, including former white-ball captain Salman Agha, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Monday evening that Agha, Rizwan and Imam, along with Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad, had been recalled from England ahead of the third Test in Birmingham, beginning September 9. The move appears to be an unprecedented shake-up, with the PCB cracking the whip on players for various reasons ranging from fitness and form to disciplinary issues.

The changes come with Pakistan 0-2 down in the ongoing Test series in England. They have lost five of their last six Tests, with their only win coming against West Indies earlier this month. Pakistan are also already out of contention for a place in the World Test Championship final.

The three senior players released - Agha, Rizwan and Imam - had been below par in the series so far. Rizwan has scored 283 runs in 11 innings at an average of 25.72, with just two half-centuries. Agha has been no better, scoring 221 runs at 24.55, while Imam has scored 178 runs at 22.25 in eight innings.

The PCB has brought in eight players to bolster the squad for the Birmingham Test, with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal among the replacements. Saim has played eight Tests, while Fazal has featured in two.

Five others - left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, fast bowlers Mohammad Imran Jr, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah, and wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig - have also been called up. They will join the squad ahead of the third Test, subject to the necessary UK visas being arranged.

There has also been a shake-up in the coaching staff. Mike Hesson, Pakistan's white-ball coach, has been asked to take charge of the Test side for the remainder of the World Test Championship cycle. The New Zealander is believed to be in England already and is expected to link up with the squad soon.

Current Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have been sidelined, with Hesson and former Australia fast-bowling coach Ashley Noffke taking over. Hesson will oversee the red-ball side for the remaining WTC matches in the current cycle - two Tests in Sri Lanka in November and two more in New Zealand early next year.

Updated squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.