- Saim Ayub returns after last playing in 2025.
- England retain unchanged line-up for final Test.
- Pakistan trail 2-0 in three-Test series.
Pakistan slumped to 84-7 in the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday after yet another collapse during their tour of England, with Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer taking two wickets each.
Pakistan, already 2-0 down in the three-match series, made four changes to the side that suffered a mammoth 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s, following which head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was sacked.
But their top order had few answers to the combination of Robinson and Archer after England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions.
Recalled opener Saim Ayub was out for a duck, lbw to a typical Robinson nip-backer as the Sussex captain took his 100th Test wicket.
Express quick Archer, a county colleague of Robinson’s, then undid Azan Awais with a short ball the opener could only lob to a diving Josh Tongue at midwicket.
Abdullah Shafique nicked Robinson to gully and Pakistan were four wickets down when the experienced Shan Masood holed out, tamely attempting to pull Archer.
The hosts made no changes to their line-up, while Pakistan handed debut caps to three players: Imran Randhawa, Razaullah and Ghazi Ghori.
Saud Shakeel presented Ghazi Ghori with his debut Test cap, while pacer Mohammad Abbas handed Razaullah his cap and captain Babar Azam presented Imran Randhawa with his maiden Test cap.
For the unversed, Pakistan head into the Edgbaston Test trailing 2-0 in the three-match series after suffering heavy defeats in the opening two matches at Headingley and Lord’s.
The national team lost the series opener inside three days by an innings and 103 runs after England posted 409 in their first innings. Pakistan were then bowled out for 171 and 135 in their two innings, respectively.
The visitors suffered another setback at Lord’s, going down by 194 runs. England scored 290 in their first innings before dismissing Pakistan for 110.
The hosts then added 208 runs in their second innings to set Pakistan a target of 389. However, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 194, handing England a 2-0 series lead.
Playing XI
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
Pakistan: Azan Awais, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (c), Ghazi Ghori (wk), Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas.
