Pakistan face uphill battle in third Test as PCB investigate conduct during horror England tour
Pakistan will get an opportunity to put the horrors of recent weeks behind them when the third and final Test against England begins in Birmingham on Wednesday. On paper, there is little riding on the contest as England have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after registering emphatic wins at Leeds and Lord's. However, so much has happened in the interim and largely off the…
The third and final Test between Pakistan and England begins in Birmingham on Wednesday. Pakistan already trails 2-0 in the series after losing both matches. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed seven players and the head coach from the team, including former captains Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha. Opener Imam-ul-Haq was also omitted due to his leg injury.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, who took over the Test team in April, was replaced by white-ball coach Mike Hesson. The PCB has launched an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports about player conduct, which are currently under review. This comes after the wholesale changes to the Pakistan team, drawing attention to the board's dissatisfaction with the national side's declining standards.
England, leading 2-0 in the series, is expected to field an unchanged side, with Ollie Robinson nearing 100 Test wickets. England captain Joe Root stated that it is easy to dismiss a team undergoing such dramatic changes, but this Test presents a different challenge for the hosts. Hesson will need to lead a recovery effort to salvage the series, and the team's mood is one of disappointment.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
