Archive · 9 Sep 2026
Joe Root Rejects Pakistan ‘Lack of Fight’ Criticism
England are playing Pakistan in a three-match Test cricket series.
England have won the first two matches.
Some people said Pakistan did not fight hard enough.
England captain Joe Root disagreed with that criticism.
He said the comments were disrespectful to Pakistan and to England.
Root explained that England had played well and stopped Pakistan from getting comfortable.
Pakistan changed much of its team and coaching staff before the last match.
The final Test will be played at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
England captain Joe Root called criticism of Pakistan’s effort “disrespectful.”
England lead the Test series 2-0 with one match remaining at Edgbaston.
Root said England’s strong performances had prevented Pakistan from settling into the matches.
The Pakistan Cricket Board dropped seven first-team players and released two coaches after the Lord’s defeat.
Pakistan named seven replacements for the final Test, including five uncapped players, while white-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke joined the team.
- Who
- England, led by captain Joe Root, and Pakistan’s Test team.
- What
- Joe Root defended Pakistan against criticism that the team lacked fight during the Test series.
- When
- Before the third and final Test, scheduled for Wednesday, after England took a 2-0 lead.
- Where
- The final Test will be played at Edgbaston.
- Why
- Root said the criticism was disrespectful and argued that England’s strong play had also limited Pakistan’s chances.
Critics of Pakistan
Joe Root’s View
Pakistan’s performance
Critics of Pakistan
Critics argued that Pakistan had shown a lack of fight after falling 2-0 behind and undergoing major team changes.
Joe Root’s View
Root said it was disrespectful to describe Pakistan that way, arguing that England had played well and prevented Pakistan from getting into the matches.
Responsibility for the series results
Critics of Pakistan
The criticism framed Pakistan’s defeats as evidence of a poor touring side.
Joe Root’s View
Root said the results should not be reduced to one team being excellent and the other being poor, adding that the reality was usually somewhere in the middle.
Final Test outlook
Critics of Pakistan
Pakistan’s extensive changes and the inclusion of five uncapped players created doubts about the team before the final match.
Joe Root’s View
Root said the final Test would be a different challenge because Pakistan still had a talented group of players.
- Series score
- England lead Pakistan 2-0 in the three-Test series.
- Final Test
- The third and final Test is scheduled for Wednesday at Edgbaston.
- Criticism
- Pakistan has been criticized as lacking fight and described as the worst Pakistan side to tour England.
- Pakistan changes
- The Pakistan Cricket Board dropped seven first-team players after the Lord’s defeat.
- Coaching changes
- Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were released midway through the series.
- Final-Test call-ups
- Pakistan called up seven players, including five uncapped cricketers.
- New coaches
- White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke were brought in for the final Test.