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Babar Azam Suffers Fever Before England Test; Pakistan Names 5 Uncapped Players for Edgbaston

Posted on 2nd Sep 2026 10:47 am by rohit kumar

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is suffering from fever ahead of the third Test against England, scheduled to begin at Edgbaston on September 9. Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema has said there is no reason for concern and that Babar is expected to recover soon.

 

Babar's health update comes at a crucial time for Pakistan, with England already taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded with a major overhaul of the Test setup, releasing seven players and making changes to the coaching staff.

 

Babar Azam's Fitness Update Ahead of Edgbaston Test

 

Babar Azam missed the first Test because of injury and returned for the second Test at Lord's. However, he struggled with the bat, scoring just 8 and 6 runs as Pakistan suffered a 194-run defeat.

 

The Pakistan captain had a comparatively productive tour of the West Indies, scoring 193 runs across two Tests, including two half-centuries. However, his wait for a Test century continues.

 

Babar's last Test century came against New Zealand in December 2022, when he scored 161 runs.

 

Pakistan Drops Seven Players After 0-2 Series Deficit

 

Following consecutive defeats against England, the PCB has made sweeping changes to the Test squad.

 

Seven players have been released ahead of the third Test:

 

Mohammad Rizwan

Imam-ul-Haq

Salman Ali Agha

Ali Usman

Aamir Jamal

Awais Zafar

Khurram Shahzad

 

Pakistan lost the opening Test by an innings and the second Test by 194 runs, leaving England with an unassailable 2-0 lead.

 

Five Uncapped Players Get a Chance

 

The biggest feature of Pakistan's revamped squad is the inclusion of five players yet to make their Test debuts.

 

They are:

 

Arafat Minhas

Mohammad Imran Jr.

Saad Baig

Mohammad Imran Randhawa

Razaullah

 

Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have also been included. Between them, the pair have only 10 Test appearances, underlining the extent of Pakistan's squad reshuffle.

 

Major Coaching Changes in Pakistan Test Team

 

The PCB has also made changes to the Test coaching setup. Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have been released from their roles.

 

Mike Hesson has been named head coach, while Ashley Noffke is set to take charge of the bowling department after moving across from Pakistan's white-ball setup.

 

Misbah-ul-Haq Offers to Resign

 

The sweeping changes have also created tension within Pakistan's selection setup.

 

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has offered his resignation from the national selection committee. The PCB has yet to accept his resignation.

 

Misbah has also decided to step down from his role as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

 

PCB Seeks Explanation Over Rizwan and Imam's Selection

 

The PCB has reportedly sought a written explanation from the selectors regarding the selection of Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.

 

The selectors have been asked to explain the reasoning behind their inclusion and the process followed during selection.

 

Pakistan Faces Risk of 0-3 Clean Sweep

 

Pakistan's recent Test record has added further pressure on the team. The defeat at Lord's was reportedly their 15th loss in their last 20 Test matches.

 

The team is also at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings, making the Edgbaston Test particularly important.

 

Pakistan's immediate objective is now to avoid a 3-0 series defeat against England.

 

Pakistan Squad for 3rd Test vs England

 

Pakistan's 17-member squad for the Edgbaston Test includes:

 

Babar Azam (Captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jr., Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique and Ubaid Shah.

 

With Babar Azam recovering from fever and several new faces entering the squad, Pakistan now faces a major challenge in the third Test at Edgbaston. The match will be crucial for Pakistan as it attempts to prevent England from completing a 3-0 series sweep.

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