The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a major shake-up of the national Test squad following the Lord’s Test against England, releasing seven players and making significant changes to the red-ball coaching staff ahead of the Birmingham Test.

According to the PCB, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have been released from the Test squad.

The board has brought in Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Imran Junior, Saad Baig, Imran Randhawa and Razaullah as replacements.

The incoming players are expected to join the Pakistan team before the next Test, scheduled to begin on September 9.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, Umar Gul released from coaching roles

The changes have not been restricted to the playing squad, with the PCB also restructuring Pakistan’s red-ball coaching setup.

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was serving as head coach, and former fast bowler Umar Gul, the bowling coach, have been released from their roles.

Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have subsequently been added to the coaching staff.

The changes represent a significant intervention by the PCB during the England series, affecting both the composition of the squad and the team’s coaching structure.

Pakistan turn to fresh faces

The inclusion of several younger players indicates that selectors are prepared to test new combinations as Pakistan look ahead to the Birmingham encounter.

Saim Ayub is among the more recognisable additions, while Arafat Minhas and Saad Baig are also part of the reshaped squad.

The decision to release established players including Rizwan, Imam and Salman Ali Agha marks a substantial change in Pakistan’s selection strategy for the upcoming Test.

Pakistan squad for Birmingham Test

According to the PCB, Pakistan’s squad for the Birmingham Test comprises Babar Azam, Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Imran Randhawa, Imran Junior, Ghazi Ghori, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.

The revamped squad combines experienced international players with emerging talent, placing greater responsibility on senior figures such as Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Abbas.

Major reset during England series

Changing seven players as well as key members of the coaching staff represents a substantial reset for Pakistan’s red-ball setup.

Attention will now turn to how quickly the incoming players and coaches can adjust before the Birmingham Test.

The performance of the revamped squad will also be closely watched as the PCB seeks improved results and greater consistency from Pakistan in Test cricket.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar emphasised that the only way forward to end the dispute is the sincere execution of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding of June 2026 by the US and Iran.

This was said by him during a meeting with Foreign Minister of Iran Seyyed Abbas Araghchi ahead of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek on Tuesday. The DPM/FM stressed that discussion and diplomacy continue to be crucial in achieving peace and stability in the region.

Dar also held a discussion with Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State conference.

The two parties reiterated the close and developing connection between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and exchanged views on measures to further expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating was stuck at the lowest level of his political career amid broad dissatisfaction over the war in Iran and the Republicans’ economic stewardship, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday.

Just 33% of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing in the White House – the third straight Reuters/Ipsos poll with that share of respondents giving the president a thumbs up.

Trump’s political brand looks increasingly like a potential weight on his Republican Party, which will be defending slim congressional majorities in the November 3 midterm elections.

Democrats appear more fired up about the elections, with 46% of self-identified Democrats describing themselves as “very enthusiastic” about voting in November, compared to 31% of Republicans, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 1,167 US adults nationwide.

Asked which party they would vote for if the congressional elections were held today, 36% of independents in the survey picked Democrats, while 22% picked Republicans.

Since mid-August, Trump’s popularity has held at a level it only briefly touched early in his first presidency, and well below the 47% share of Americans who approved of his performance early in his current term.

His rating is lower than the low point his predecessor in office, Democrat Joe Biden, hit, at 35% approval, in October 2024.

Like Biden, Trump has been dogged by widespread discontent over high levels of inflation.

Gasoline prices have surged since Trump ordered the US to start bombing Iran in February, and just 36% of Americans approve of the war, the Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

The conflict has had long lulls over the period, but in recent days the two sides have traded missile strikes, and since the war’s outset Iran has largely blocked a major transit point for the global oil trade.

Some 71% of Americans – including four in 10 Republicans – disapprove of how Trump is handling the cost of living.

For the last month, registered voters in the survey have been saying the Democratic Party has better ideas for the economy than the Republican Party, the first time Democrats have led on the issue in about a decade.

The four-day poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points in either direction.