England Announces Squad for Final Test Against Pakistan Amid Controversies

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced its squad for the final Test against Pakistan, featuring significant changes due to player controversies and performance issues. Brydon Carse's recent arrest led to his exclusion, while Pakistan has revamped its lineup after heavy defeats. With the series already in England's favor, the upcoming match promises to be a pivotal showdown. Read on for detailed insights into the teams and the implications of these changes.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 3, 2026, 00:48 IST

England's Squad Update for the Third Test

Birmingham [UK], September 2: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed a 15-member team for the concluding Test match of the three-match series against Pakistan.

Fast bowler Brydon Carse has been excluded from the selection following a brief arrest outside a bar in Derby, which led to his omission from England's lineup for the second Test against Pakistan, as reported by Cricinfo.

Footage showed Carse being escorted away from the bar in handcuffs, with police later confirming his arrest and subsequent release. As a result of this incident, he was not included in the squad for the second Test at Lord's.

Sonny Baker, who stepped in for Carse in the second Test, has maintained his position for the upcoming third Test at Edgbaston. The only alteration to the squad is the exclusion of pacer Matt Fisher, resulting in a finalized 15-member team for the series decider.

On the other hand, Pakistan has made significant adjustments to their Test lineup ahead of the final match against England, scheduled for September 9. They have replaced nearly half of their squad and parted ways with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul following substantial losses in the first two Tests. Pakistan faced a 194-run defeat in the second Test, granting England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, while the first Test ended in an innings defeat for Pakistan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released seven players from their squad, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad after the defeat at Lord's. In their stead, five uncapped players have been introduced, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who collectively have only 10 matches of experience. The new uncapped players are Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah. Additionally, the PCB has appointed Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, who are part of the white-ball coaching staff, as head coach and bowling coach, respectively.

England's squad for the third Test includes:

Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue.