Head coach Sarfaraz, several Pakistan players to stay in England after Test series snub

KARACHI: Four Pakistan cricketers alongside head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed will stay in England for a few days despite their omission from the Green Shirts' squad for the third and last Test of the away series against England, scheduled to be played in Birmingham from September 9 to 13.

Following the national team's lacklustre performances in the first two Tests against England, which they lost by an innings and 103 runs and 194 runs, respectively, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) enforced a major overhaul, releasing seven players, besides head coach Sarfaraz and bowling coach Umar Gul from the squad.

The players released from the Pakistan squad for the third England Test included batters Imam-ul-Haq and Awais Zafar, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, all-rounders Salman Ali Aga and Aamir Jamal, left-arm spinner Ali Usman and right-arm pacer Khurram Shahzad.

While experienced opener Imam and wicketkeeper batter Rizwan have already touched down in Pakistan, head coach Sarfaraz and the remaining national cricketers – Agha, Usman, Jamal and Shahzad – have remained in England for the time being and will stay there for a few more days.

For the unversed, the seven released players have been replaced by Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran, Razaullah, Mohammad Imran Jr and Saad Baig, who will link up with the remaining Pakistan squad ahead of the Birmingham Test, slated to commence next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and assistant coach Ashley Noffke will replace Sarfaraz and Gul, respectively, in the Green Shirts' backroom staff, the PCB had shared on Monday.

Updated Pakistan squad for third Test against England

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Fazal, 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.