Quick answer: The Pakistan tour of England wraps up with the 3rd Test ENG vs PAK at Edgbaston in Birmingham, running September 9 to 13, 2026. England already lead the series 2-0 after wins at Headingley and Lord’s, so the trophy is settled, but this match decides whether England complete a 3-0 whitewash or Pakistan grab a consolation result. Pakistan have dropped 7 players, including Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq, and replaced both their head coach and bowling coach. England have kept almost the same group that has won every match so far. Captain Babar Azam’s fitness is reportedly in doubt after a bout of illness. On paper this points to another England win, but a draw is not impossible if rain, a flat pitch, or Pakistan’s new players simply digging in gets in the way.
Follow live scores, session by session updates and full scorecards on CRIC INFO 365 once play gets underway.
Series Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 3rd and final Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026 |
| Dates | September 9 to 13, 2026 (5 day Test) |
| Venue | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Competition | ICC World Test Championship 2025 to 27 |
| Series score before this match | England lead 2-0 |
| 1st Test result | England won by an innings and 103 runs (Headingley) |
| 2nd Test result | England won by 194 runs (Lord’s) |
| England captain | Joe Root |
| Pakistan captain | Babar Azam (fitness in doubt) |
| Pakistan players dropped | 7, including Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq |
| England head coach (interim) | Marcus Trescothick |
| England incoming head coach | Stephen Fleming, from the South Africa tour onward |
| Pakistan new coaches | Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke |
| Pakistan coaches removed | Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul |
| TV broadcast | Sky Sports (UK), PTV Sports and Ten Sports (Pakistan) |
For official squad announcements and tour background, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s own release is a good primary source, alongside ESPNcricinfo for ball by ball detail once play starts.
When and Where Is the 3rd Test ENG vs PAK Being Played?
The match is scheduled at Edgbaston in Birmingham, starting Wednesday, September 9, 2026, and running through Sunday, September 13. Play begins at 11:00 AM local UK time each day, which works out to 3:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time.
| Day | Date | Local UK Time | Pakistan Time (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | September 9, 2026 | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Day 2 | September 10, 2026 | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Day 3 | September 11, 2026 | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Day 4 | September 12, 2026 | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| Day 5 | September 13, 2026 | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
This is also the first Test match ever played in September at Edgbaston, so both sides are stepping into slightly unusual late season conditions at a ground more used to hosting Tests in high summer.
Why Does This Match ENG vs PAK Still Matter If the Series Is Already Decided?
England sealed the series with their win at Lord’s, so the trophy has already gone their way. That does not make Edgbaston meaningless, for a few clear reasons.
- World Test Championship points: Every Test in the 2025 to 27 WTC cycle adds to a team’s position on the points table, and England’s recent wins have already lifted them above Sri Lanka in the standings.
- Avoiding a whitewash: Pakistan want to leave this tour with at least one positive result rather than a 3-0 defeat, which would rank among their worst tours in years.
- New players getting a chance: With Pakistan’s squad overhaul, several uncapped players get their first taste of Test cricket in English conditions, which matters well beyond this single series.
- Personal form and milestones: Individual players on both sides still have plenty on the line, from WTC bowling and batting charts to simply proving they belong in the side.
So while nobody will call this a series decider, it is far from a dead match either.
Has Pakistan Really Dropped 7 Players for the ENG vs PAK Edgbaston Test?
Yes, and it is one of the bigger stories of the tour on its own. After the heavy 194 run defeat at Lord’s, the Pakistan Cricket Board sent home seven players from the touring squad: Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Ali Usman, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Imam-ul-Haq.
Imam-ul-Haq’s situation is a little different from the rest of the group. He was injured during the Lord’s Test and, according to reports, is now facing a possible two year ban linked to a separate injury controversy from that match. His absence is about more than form or team balance.
In their place, Pakistan called up seven replacements, five of whom have never played a Test match before. Two of the new names, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, already carry some Test experience, with eight and two appearances respectively, but the rest are facing red ball cricket in English conditions for the first time. That is a steep introduction for any young cricketer, let alone in a dead rubber against a confident home side.
Players Pakistan Dropped From the Squad
| Player | Reason Given |
|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan | Squad overhaul after Lord’s defeat |
| Imam-ul-Haq | Injured during Lord’s Test, facing possible ban |
| Salman Ali Agha | Squad overhaul after Lord’s defeat |
| Aamir Jamal | Squad overhaul after Lord’s defeat |
| Khurram Shahzad | Squad overhaul after Lord’s defeat |
| Ali Usman | Squad overhaul after Lord’s defeat |
| Muhammad Awais Zafar | Squad overhaul after Lord’s defeat |
What Do the Confirmed Squads and Probable XIs Look Like?
Both teams have named their final squads for Edgbaston, so there is no guesswork left on the touring parties, only on the final playing XI.
Pakistan’s Confirmed Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam (captain) | Batter |
| Shan Masood | Batter |
| Abdullah Shafique | Batter |
| Saim Ayub | Batter |
| Saud Shakeel | Batter |
| Azan Awais | Batter |
| Abdullah Fazal | Batter/All rounder |
| Saad Baig | Wicketkeeper |
| Muhammad Ghazi Ghori | Wicketkeeper |
| Sajid Khan | Spin bowler |
| Mohammad Abbas | Fast bowler |
| Mohammad Ali | Fast bowler |
| Muhammad Imran | Fast bowler |
| Mohammad Imran Jnr | Fast bowler |
| Razaullah | Fast bowler/All rounder |
| Arafat Minhas | All rounder |
| Ubaid Shah | Fast bowler |
Predicted Pakistan Playing XI: Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakeel, Azan Awais, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Ubaid Shah.
With Imam-ul-Haq gone from the squad and Mohammad Rizwan released as well, Pakistan’s top order and wicketkeeping duties look very different from the first two Tests. This XI is less about a specific tactical plan and more about giving fresh players a chance in what is already a lost series.
England’s Confirmed Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Joe Root (captain) | Batter |
| Ben Duckett | Batter |
| Jordan Cox | Batter |
| Emilio Gay | Batter |
| Dan Lawrence | Batter |
| Harry Brook | Batter |
| Ollie Pope | Batter |
| Jamie Smith | Wicketkeeper |
| Shoaib Bashir | Spin bowler |
| Jofra Archer | Fast bowler |
| Gus Atkinson | Fast bowler |
| Ollie Robinson | Fast bowler |
| Sam Cook | Fast bowler |
| Josh Tongue | Fast bowler |
| Sonny Baker | Fast bowler |
Predicted England Playing XI: Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Ollie Pope, Joe Root (captain), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.
England left both Brydon Carse and Matthew Fisher out of this squad. Carse had already missed the Lord’s Test after an incident in Derby, where he was briefly arrested outside a bar before being released without charge, and he misses out again here. Sonny Baker keeps the pace bowling spot he earned as Carse’s replacement. England’s team management has been open about wanting to field their strongest possible eleven and chase a full 3-0 sweep rather than resting anyone with the series already won.
Is Babar Azam Fit to Play the Edgbaston Test?
This is genuinely unclear, and it is worth watching closely before Day 1. Reports from early September said Babar Azam was confined to his hotel room in London with a high fever just days before the match. No official update on his fitness had been issued at the time of writing, so his place in the final XI is not guaranteed even though he remains named as captain in the squad.
If Babar cannot take the field, Pakistan would need to hand the captaincy to someone else in a Test where the side is already short on experienced leadership options, given how many senior players have been sent home. That adds one more layer of uncertainty to an already unsettled camp.
Who Are the Head Coaches for Both Teams at Edgbaston?
Both sides walk into this Test with unsettled coaching setups, a detail a lot of fans miss when they only look at the players.
| Role | England | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach for this Test | Marcus Trescothick (interim) | Mike Hesson |
| Bowling coach | Not changed for this series | Ashley Noffke |
| Coach stepping down or removed | Brendon McCullum (left Test role in July 2026) | Sarfaraz Ahmed |
| Bowling coach removed | Not applicable | Umar Gul |
| Incoming head coach | Stephen Fleming, takes over ahead of the South Africa tour | Not yet confirmed beyond this series |
| Test captain | Joe Root | Babar Azam |
England’s situation is less dramatic than Pakistan’s but still worth knowing. Brendon McCullum stepped down as England’s Test head coach in July 2026 after a difficult run of results, staying on only as white ball coach. Former opener Marcus Trescothick has run the Test side on an interim basis through this series, with New Zealander Stephen Fleming, fresh off a long spell coaching Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, confirmed as the permanent replacement once England’s tour of South Africa begins later in the year.
Pakistan’s changes are more urgent and came mid series. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were both released from their roles right after the Lord’s defeat, with white ball coach Mike Hesson stepping in and Ashley Noffke joining as bowling coach for the rest of the tour. Making a coaching change this close to the final Test is not a small decision. It usually signals the management felt the current setup was not getting results, and it also leaves the new staff very little time to work with a squad already unfamiliar with English conditions. PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi has publicly defended the scale of the overhaul, calling it a needed reset rather than a panic move, though results at Edgbaston will be the real test of that claim.
What Happened in the First Two Tests?
| Test | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Headingley, Leeds | England won by an innings and 103 runs |
| 2nd Test | Lord’s, London | England won by 194 runs |
Pakistan were bowled out for 171 and 135 at Headingley, and their batting order has continued to struggle against disciplined English seam bowling since. At Lord’s, Ollie Robinson was the standout performer with match figures of 8 wickets, while Saud Shakeel’s fighting 97 was one of the few genuine positives for Pakistan’s batting across both games. Robinson’s form heading into Edgbaston is a big reason England go in full of confidence.
What Does the Head to Head Record Say Between Pakistan and England?
Across formats, England hold a small overall edge in this rivalry, though the margin in Tests specifically is closer than a lot of fans expect.
| Format | Matches Played | England Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draws/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 92 | 30 | 23 | 39 draws |
| ODI | 92 | 57 | 32 | 3 no results |
| T20I | 31 | 21 | 9 | 1 no result |
The Test numbers show this is not a one sided rivalry at all. Pakistan have pushed England close many times, and a large chunk of matches, 39 in total, have ended in a draw rather than a clear result. The two sides last met at Edgbaston specifically in a Test back in 2016, when England won by 141 runs, so history at this exact ground leans England’s way too.
Who Has Won More Test Series Between Pakistan and England in England?
This is where the story gets more interesting, and it is a detail a lot of quick previews skip. Looking specifically at series played in England since 1954, England have won 7 series, Pakistan have won 3, and 3 more ended drawn.
| Year | Result | England Captain | Pakistan Captain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Drawn 1-1 | Len Hutton | Abdul Hafeez Kardar |
| 1962 | England won 4-0 | Ted Dexter | Javed Burki |
| 1967 | England won 2-0 | Brian Close | Hanif Mohammad |
| 1971 | England won 1-0 | Ray Illingworth | Intikhab Alam |
| 1974 | Drawn 0-0 | Mike Denness | Intikhab Alam |
| 1978 | England won 2-0 | Mike Brearley | Wasim Bari |
| 1982 | England won 2-1 | Bob Willis | Imran Khan |
| 1987 | Pakistan won 1-0 | Mike Gatting | Imran Khan |
| 1992 | Pakistan won 2-1 | Graham Gooch | Javed Miandad |
| 1996 | Pakistan won 2-0 | Michael Atherton | Wasim Akram |
| 2006 | England won 3-0 | Andrew Flintoff | Inzamam-ul-Haq |
| 2010 | England won 3-1 | Andrew Strauss | Salman Butt |
| 2016 | Drawn 2-2 | Alastair Cook | Misbah-ul-Haq |
A few things stand out here. Imran Khan is the only captain to lead Pakistan to a series win in England and also captain a losing series there, which shows how much this fixture can swing even under the same leader. Pakistan’s three series wins, in 1987, 1992 and 1996, all fell within a ten year stretch, still the strongest period Pakistan have ever had on English soil. Since 1996, Pakistan have not won a single Test series in England, a run stretching across the 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2016 tours before this 2026 visit.
Pakistan’s most recent meeting with England anywhere, in the 2024-25 series played in Pakistan, went the other way. England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, but Pakistan hit back hard, winning the second Test by 152 runs in Multan and sealing the series with a nine wicket win in the third Test at Rawalpindi. That series win was Pakistan’s first at home against England since 2005, which shows how quickly this rivalry can flip depending on conditions and form. The team that dominated at home less than a year ago is now the one struggling badly away from home, and that says a lot about how much conditions shape this fixture.
What Does the Edgbaston Pitch and Weather Look Like for ENG vs PAK?
Edgbaston in September usually plays differently from the peak English summer months of July and August. Cooler mornings and shorter daylight hours often help the ball swing more with the new ball, especially under overcast skies, which suits England’s pace attack of Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson.
As the match wears on, the pitch typically flattens out, giving batters on both sides a chance to build partnerships, before wear and tear in the footmarks starts to help the spinners late on. Since this is the first ever September Test at this ground, there is naturally less historical data to lean on, but the general pattern at English venues this late in the season points toward seam and swing dominating early, with reverse swing and spin becoming more relevant from around day three.
Fans planning to attend in person should expect cooler temperatures than a typical August Test and should pack a jacket for the mornings and evenings.
Who Will Win the Edgbaston Test, or Will It End in a Draw?
England are the clear favorites, and it is not close. Their squad is settled, their bowlers are in rhythm, and they are chasing a 3-0 sweep with nothing left to lose. Pakistan, in contrast, are fielding several uncapped players, have a new coaching team barely settled in, and may even be without their captain due to illness.
That said, a draw is not impossible. A few things could push this match toward a stalemate rather than a third England win:
- Dead rubber effect: With the series already decided, England may not push as hard in tricky moments as they did in the first two Tests.
- Weather at Edgbaston in September: Cooler, shorter days can eat into playing time if rain interrupts the schedule.
- Inexperienced Pakistan batters simply trying to survive: New players with nothing to lose sometimes bat with more patience than expected, especially if the pitch flattens out after early seam movement.
Prediction: England remain the most likely winners and should complete a 3-0 series sweep, given their settled batting order, bowling attack in excellent rhythm, and the freedom that comes with already having won the series. But do not be surprised if this Test runs closer to a draw than the first two matches did, purely because of how unsettled Pakistan’s new look side is walking into the game. Pakistan’s best hope lies in senior batters like Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel building long innings, and Mohammad Abbas using any early seam movement to trouble England’s top order.
What Records or Milestones Could This ENG vs PAK Test Produce?
- Ollie Robinson could extend his excellent run of form against Pakistan with another multi wicket haul.
- Joe Root continues to build his lead as one of the top run scorers in this fixture’s history.
- Mohammad Abbas already has a five wicket haul at Lord’s this series and remains Pakistan’s most experienced and reliable bowler in English conditions.
- Babar Azam will be looking to end a difficult tour with a big score, both for personal form and to settle nerves around his recent return to the Test captaincy.
- Several Pakistan debutants could earn their first Test cap in this match, a milestone that matters for their careers even in a series already lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Has Pakistan really dropped 7 players for the Edgbaston Test?
Yes. Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Ali Usman and Muhammad Awais Zafar were all removed from the squad after the Lord’s defeat.
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When does the ENG vs PAK 3rd Test start and where is it played?
It starts on September 9, 2026, and runs through September 13 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, the same ground that last hosted these two teams in a Test back in 2016.
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Is the series already decided, and why does this Test still matter?
Yes, England have already won the three match series 2-0. This final Test decides only whether England complete a 3-0 sweep or Pakistan avoid a whitewash, though WTC points, new player debuts and personal milestones are still very much in play.
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Is Babar Azam fit to play?
His fitness is uncertain. Reports said he was unwell with a high fever just days before the match, and no official confirmation of his availability had been issued at the time of writing.
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Who are Pakistan’s new coaches for the ENG vs PAK 3rd Test?
Mike Hesson takes over as head coach and Ashley Noffke joins as bowling coach, replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul.
-
What changed on England’s coaching staff?
Brendon McCullum stepped down as Test head coach in July 2026. Marcus Trescothick has run the side on an interim basis since, with Stephen Fleming confirmed to take over permanently once England’s tour of South Africa begins.
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What is the Test head to head record between Pakistan and England?
Out of 92 Tests, England have won 30, Pakistan have won 23, and 39 matches have ended in a draw.
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Who has won more Test series between Pakistan and England in England specifically?
Since 1954, England have won 7 series played in England, Pakistan have won 3, and 3 have ended drawn.
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Who won the last Test series between Pakistan and England?
Pakistan won the 2024-25 series 2-1, played in Pakistan, coming back after losing the first Test heavily.
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Who is likely to win the ENG vs PAK Edgbaston Test?
England are strong favorites given their settled squad, current form, and home conditions, with a series sweep the most likely outcome, though a draw remains possible.
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Where can I watch the match ENG vs PAK live?
The match is broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, and on PTV Sports and Ten Sports in Pakistan.
Final Word
England arrive at Edgbaston with a settled side, a bowling attack in rhythm, and nothing left to lose after already sealing the series. Pakistan arrive with a heavily rebuilt squad, new coaches barely in place, and real doubt over their captain’s fitness. That combination makes a 3-0 England sweep the most likely outcome, but with rain, a flat pitch, or a group of debutants simply trying to survive all capable of dragging this one toward a draw, Edgbaston is worth watching closely even with the trophy already decided.
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