Three debutants, one last chance for Pakistan at Edgbaston

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan have turned to three Test debutants and a returning opener in a dramatic attempt to rescue something from their troubled England tour after the hosts won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third and final Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

The visitors made four changes to the side that suffered a heavy 194-run defeat at Lord’s, leaving them with a significantly reshaped and inexperienced XI for a match they must win to avoid a series whitewash.

Domestic cricket veteran and pace-bowling all-rounder Imran Randhawa, fast bowler Razaullah and wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori were handed their Test debuts. Opener Saim Ayub also returned to the Test side for the first time since 2025.

The selection reflects the extraordinary upheaval that has followed Pakistan’s disappointing performances in England. After the Lord’s defeat, the Pakistan Cricket Board sent seven players home and brought in seven replacements, with five of the new arrivals uncapped at Test level.

The coaching staff was also overhauled. Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were removed, while white-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke were brought in.

Among the players sent home were Salman Ali Agha, who captained Pakistan at Headingley in Babar Azam’s absence, and left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who claimed a five-wicket haul in that Test. Experienced wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was also omitted, while opener Imam-ul-Haq missed both innings at Lord’s after suffering a calf injury.

Pakistan’s tour has already gone badly wrong. England won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings before claiming the second at Lord’s by 194 runs, securing the three-match series with a match to spare.

Yet the Edgbaston contest offers a fresh opportunity for several players who were not expecting to be thrust into Test cricket so suddenly.

Randhawa arrives with the most substantial first-class experience among the debutants, having played 58 matches. Razaullah has featured in only eight first-class games, while Ghori has spent recent seasons in the Pakistan Shaheens and youth setups and has also represented Pakistan in ODIs.

Speaking after the toss, captain Babar Azam suggested the team had quickly moved beyond the turmoil of the previous week.

“It wasn’t difficult,” Babar said, describing the Test as an opportunity for the players to show their character.

England, meanwhile, have resisted making changes after dominating the first two Tests. Their unchanged XI will now look to exploit the decision to bowl first, with their pace attack expected to test Pakistan’s new-look batting order under early pressure.

For Pakistan, the Edgbaston Test is no longer about winning the series. That chance has already disappeared.

Instead, it is about whether a team shaken by defeats, injuries and sweeping changes can discover a new beginning — and whether its newest faces can turn an unexpected Test opportunity into the first sign of a recovery.

Playing XI:

ENGLAND: Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (captain), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue.

PAKISTAN: Azan Awais, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakeel, Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas.