EDGBASTON (Kashmir English): National Test team captain Babar Azam has said that the team did not perform well in batting, bowling, and fielding in the last Test, due to which the results did not come as expected.
Babar Azam said while holding a pre-match press conference in Birmingham that if the team does not play well and does not deliver results, then such things will happen.
He said that in the Lord’s Test, the best team was fielded according to the conditions, but the result was not as we expected.
There is no difficulty in forming a playing eleven. Addressing the new players, Babar Azam said that this is a golden opportunity for new players to make a name for themselves and express their talents. One has to perform as a player in every format.
He said that the Edgbaston ground has been lucky for them in the past, and they will try to perform well in this Test match.
Mike Hesson yet to finalise Pakistan playing XI for Edgbaston Test
Media reports suggest Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson is yet to finalise the playing XI for the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, with several changes expected following the team’s heavy defeat at Lord’s.
The final Test of the series is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 9, but Hesson has reportedly remained undecided over the combination after two days of training in Birmingham.
Several Changes Expected in Pakistan XI
Pakistan suffered a 194-run defeat in the Lord’s Test, after which seven players were reportedly dropped from the squad. As a result, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq, fast bowler Khurram Shahzad and spinner Ali Usman are expected to be replaced in the playing XI.
According to media reports, Ghazi Ghauri is almost certain to make his Test debut behind the stumps.
Left-handed opener Saim Ayub, who last played a Test against South Africa in Cape Town in January 2025, is also reportedly in contention to partner Azan Owais at the top of the order.
The reports further suggest that experienced right-arm spinner Sajid Khan could be preferred over 21-year-old all-rounder Arafat Minhas, who has represented Pakistan in three ODIs and four T20Is.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old fast bowler Obaid Shah, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in Port of Spain in August 2026, is reportedly a strong candidate to feature in his second Test.
