BIG SHAKE UP: Pakistan announce squad for 3rd ENG vs PAK Test; 7 players RELEASED
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Pakistan are 2-0 down in the three-match ENG vs PAK Test series.
The ongoing England vs Pakistan Test series has taken a difficult turn for the visitors. England have already taken a 2-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first two matches convincingly.
England won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs. They followed it with another strong performance at Lord’s, where they defeated Pakistan by 194 runs. This exposes the problems for the Babar Azam-led side with both batting and team balance.
The third and final Test will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 09. Although the series is already decided, Pakistan will look to avoid a 3-0 clean sweep and finish the tour with a better performance.
Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal added to Pakistan squad along others for last ENG vs PAK Test; Salman Agha released
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Pakistan have officially announced their squad for the third Test against England. They have released seven players, and made some fresh additions to the team. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Faza have been added to the squad for the final Test. Ayub could be an important addition to the batting group.
The left-handed opener has been playing in the Caribbean Premier League and recently scored his maiden CPL century. His return gives Pakistan another option at the top of the order.
Pakistan have also included Razaullah Khan, Mohammad Imran, Arafat Minhas and Ubaid Shah in the squad. Razaullah and Imran are fast bowlers, while Minhas is a left-arm spinner and bowling all-rounder.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha do not feature in the officially announced 16-member squad for the third Test.
All three players have struggled to make a big impact during the Test matches. Rizwan, in particular, has found it difficult to score runs consistently. He managed only 61 runs across his four innings in the first two Tests against England.
Agha has also not been doing well, while Imam’s situation has been different because of his calf injury. The opener did not bat in either innings of the Lord’s Test after being listed as “Absent Hurt”.
Pakistan squad for third ENG vs PAK Test
Babar Azam (Captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, and Ubaid Shah.
With England already leading 2-0, Pakistan will be looking to improve their performance and end this series on a positive note. The addition of several new faces could bring fresh energy to the side, but the visitors will need much stronger batting performances if they want to challenge England.
When will the third ENG vs PAK Test begin?
The third Test is scheduled to begin on September 09 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
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