Interim Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has admitted that his side is no stranger to a certain amount of disorder as they look to finish a difficult English tour on a positive note in the final Test at Edgbaston. After a crushing 194‑run loss at Lord's, which followed an innings defeat at Headingley, the team found itself trailing 2‑0 with only one match remaining, prompting a wholesale reshuffle of the squad. In response to the heavy defeats, seven players were dropped from the touring party and seven new faces were called up, five of whom have never played at Test level. The changes were not limited to the playing XI; Hesson, previously the white‑ball coach, was promoted to the Test helm after the removal of Sarfaraz Ahmed from the role.
The new selections included a mixture of uncapped talent and experienced campaigners, aiming to inject fresh energy and address the shortcomings exposed in the first two matches. Speaking to the press in Birmingham on Friday, Hesson, who spent six years as head coach of New Zealand from 2012 to 2018, described the situation as "pretty challenging" and noted that the Pakistani players seemed more accustomed to a bit of chaos than he was. "There is no doubt they have been incredibly disappointed," he said. "We have had to put that aside and ask ourselves, ‘Where do we go from here?’ The lads have responded well over the past couple of days." Among the seven players who were omitted, four featured in both of the opening Tests: opener Imam‑ul‑Haq, wicket‑keeper Mohammad Rizwan, spinner Ali Usman and seamer Khurram Shahzad.
Salman Ali Agha, who captained the side in the Leeds Test when Babar Azam was sidelined with injury, also missed out on the Lord's defeat. The decision to drop these individuals sparked debate, especially given Pakistan's long‑standing reputation for having a varied bowling attack.
Critics have pointed out that Pakistan’s bowling unit has lacked both genuine pace and a wrist‑spinner, limiting the variety that traditionally makes them a formidable force. Hesson acknowledged this shortfall, saying, "I don't think anyone wants such a drastic move in the middle of a series. From my perspective, we need to assemble a balanced squad, not just for this Test but with an eye on future contests, so that we have more options in our attack.
Pakistan is known for its speed, unorthodox actions and mystery spin – we haven't been able to showcase any of that lately. We need a little bit of an X‑factor to create opportunities and back up Mohammed Abbas, who has performed admirably." The coach also addressed circulating rumors that Salman Ali Agha had declined an invitation to meet King Charles at Clarence House after being dropped. Hesson dismissed the story as fabricated, explaining that Agha, along with Imam and Rizwan, were removed from the squad before the royal engagement was scheduled, and therefore their names were omitted from the guest list.
"There has been a void in the news, but people are just making up stories," the 51‑year‑old said. "Three players were released from the squad before I arrived and well before the reception.
The organisers were sent a note at the time that these three players would not be attending. Someone has just made something up. That's unacceptable journalism." Former Pakistan coach and former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie weighed in on the mass exclusions, writing in The Australian that the situation was unsettling for the players whose livelihoods depend on selection. "From the outside it looks like they are playing with fear," Gillespie observed.
He highlighted the rapid fall from grace experienced by Salman Ali Agha, who went from captaining the side in the first Test to being omitted from the second and then sent home before the third. "If you want consistency on the field, you need consistency off the field – at the board, selection and coaching levels.
The talent is there, as good as anywhere in the world. These players just need support off the field." The third Test, set to begin at 10 a.m.
(11 a.m. local time for the first ball) on Wednesday, September 9 at Edgbaston, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. For viewers without a Sky subscription, alternative streaming options are available through NOW.
This decisive encounter offers Pakistan a chance to regroup, showcase the newly introduced players, and perhaps rediscover the unpredictable flair that has historically made their cricket so captivating. In summary, Hesson’s task is to stabilize a side rattled by heavy defeats, integrate fresh talent, and restore the balance between pace, spin and the elusive X‑factor that can turn matches. Whether the revamped lineup can deliver a competitive performance at Edgbaston remains to be seen, but the interim coach’s candid assessment and willingness to make bold changes suggest that Pakistan is determined to end the tour on a more hopeful note.