Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Pietersen Mocks Pakistan's Massive Test Squad Shake-Up Before England Finale
Pakistan lost the first two Test matches against England.
Before the last match, Pakistan changed many players and coaches.
Seven players were sent home.
Seven others were brought into the squad, including five players who had not played a Test for Pakistan.
Kevin Pietersen joked that Babar Azam would have so many changes to explain that his interview could take a very long time.
He also joked that the toss should begin the night before.
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja criticized the changes and called them a possible world record.
Pakistan will play the final Test hoping to avoid losing all three matches.
Pakistan made seven squad changes before the third Test against England after losing the first two matches.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were released.
Five uncapped players, along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, were added to Pakistan’s squad.
Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were released, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke joining the Test staff.
Kevin Pietersen joked that Babar Azam’s pre-match interview could be so long that the toss should begin the night before.
- Who
- Pakistan’s cricket team and management, captain Babar Azam, and former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen are central to the story.
- What
- Pakistan reshuffled seven players and changed members of its Test coaching staff before the third Test against England.
- When
- The changes were announced ahead of the third Test, scheduled to begin on September 9.
- Where
- The third Test is scheduled at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England.
- Why
- The Pakistan Cricket Board made the changes after Pakistan lost the first two Tests and England took an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Criticism of the overhaul
Pakistan management’s response
Timing of the changes
Criticism of the overhaul
Ramiz Raja criticized making such sweeping changes in the middle of a Test series, saying this had never happened in such circumstances and describing it as a possible “world record.”
Pakistan management’s response
The Pakistan Cricket Board made the changes after two heavy defeats, including a 194-run loss in the second Test and an innings defeat in the first.
Effect on the team
Criticism of the overhaul
Critics and social-media commentators viewed the large reshuffle as evidence of uncertainty and instability in Pakistan’s Test side.
Pakistan management’s response
The overhaul gives Pakistan a significantly reshaped squad before the final Test, with new players brought in as the team seeks to avoid a 3-0 series defeat.
- Series score
- England leads Pakistan 2-0 after the first two Tests.
- Third Test
- Scheduled to begin September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
- Players released
- Seven players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha and Khurram Shahzad, were sent home.
- Players added
- Five uncapped players plus Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal were added.
- Coaching changes
- Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were released from the Test coaching staff.
- New coaches
- Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke joined the Test coaching staff.
- Pietersen’s comment
- He joked that Babar Azam’s toss interview could be very long and that the toss might need to start the night before.
Sources
'Toss Interview Could Start A Night Before': Kevin Pietersen Trolls Pakistan After Massive Squad Shake-Up
Babar Azam set for a ‘v v v v long interview’? Kevin Pietersen brutally roasts Pakistan's squad overhaul in England
