Pakistan have taken the dramatic step of dropping seven players, releasing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, and calling up five uncapped players ahead of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, following two heavy defeats in the series. The overhaul, described by former captain and PCB chairman Ramiz Raja as unprecedented in world cricket, comes after Pakistan were bowled out for under 200 in all four completed innings and have not won a Test series in the UK for 30 years.

Among those dropped are wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha, who had captained the side, while newcomers including batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal and four uncapped players have been called up. Assistant coach Umar Gul has also been released, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson and former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke stepping in; the third Test begins on 9 September. The shake-up follows a turbulent second Test at Lord's, where the PCB threatened to abandon the tour over a Sky interview with Imran Khan's sons, and comes as the Pakistan squad are due to meet King Charles this week.