Pakistan are considering significant squad changes and shifts within the coaching setup ahead of the third and final Test against England, following a heavy 194-run defeat at Lord’s, sources said on Monday.
England sealed the result on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s on Sunday, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The series concludes at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, with the final Test scheduled from September 9 to 13.
An emergency meeting was reportedly convened at the team hotel shortly after the loss, where officials discussed potential Pakistan squad changes ahead of the Birmingham fixture.
Rizwan, Imam Set to Return Home
According to sources, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Test opener Imam-ul-Haq are likely to be sent back to Pakistan, while Saim Ayub and Arafat Minhas are being lined up as replacements for the Birmingham Test.
PCB May Probe Imam’s Injury Claim
The Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to fly Imam back on the earliest available flight from London and may open a formal inquiry into the calf injury he reported. The 30-year-old opener flagged discomfort on day one at Lord’s and did not bat during Pakistan’s second innings, a gap that was noticeable as the side collapsed to just 110 runs in their first innings.
The timing has stirred debate, with several former cricketers publicly questioning whether the injury was genuine. Given this, the board is likely to examine the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal more closely.
Sources noted that PCB officials had already flagged concerns over Imam’s injury history in the past. Notably, a PCB inquiry panel in March 2025 concluded that Imam had misrepresented an injury during Pakistan’s New Zealand tour. Medical scans at the time showed no fracture or dislocation in his toe, and the committee determined he had overstated his symptoms to team medical staff. That panel recommended barring him from representing Pakistan in any format, alleging his goal was to sidestep New Zealand’s fast, demanding pitches.
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Coaching Role in Doubt
Adding to the uncertainty, red-ball coach Sarfaraz Ahmed’s future with the Test setup looks shaky following the Lord’s result. Reports indicate white-ball coach Mike Hesson is set to step into Test team affairs and may join the squad for the Birmingham decider.
Hesson had initially traveled to London alongside Director High-Performance Centre Aqib Javed for a dinner hosted by Prince Charles. He is now expected to take on a broader role overseeing the Test side and could be present in the dressing room for the final match.
His growing involvement has sparked speculation that he might eventually take full charge of the Test team, having already managed Pakistan’s ODI and T20 setups. The PCB has not officially confirmed this arrangement.
There is a real possibility Sarfaraz could be removed from his red-ball coaching position once the England tour wraps up, with the board expected to reassess the coaching structure following this disappointing series.
A Historic Low Point for Pakistan Test Cricket
The Lord’s loss snapped Pakistan’s 16-year unbeaten streak at the venue and handed England an unassailable 2-0 series lead. It also means Pakistan now have more Test defeats than wins for the first time since 1987, standing at 154 losses against 153 victories from 473 matches, with the remaining 166 ending in draws.