Pakistan’s next men’s international cricket match will be the third and final Test against England, with the match scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026, at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Pakistan enter the match needing a strong response after England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.
The third Test is particularly important for Pakistan because the team will be looking to avoid a 3-0 series defeat and finish the England tour on a positive note.
When is Pakistan’s next cricket match?
Pakistan facing England in the decisive 3rd Test match at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham.
Pakistan’s next senior men’s international is:
England vs Pakistan — 3rd Test
- Date: September 9–13, 2026
- Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham, England
- Series: England vs Pakistan, three-Test series
- Match: Third Test
The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that the third Test will begin at Edgbaston on September 9.
Pakistan vs England Test series
England currently lead the series 2-0 after winning the first Test at Headingley and the second Test at Lord’s.
England won the second Test by 194 runs at Lord’s, taking an unbeatable series lead. Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel scored 97 in the second innings, while Mohammad Abbas took five wickets for Pakistan.
Pakistan therefore have one final opportunity to prevent a series clean sweep.
What happened in the second Test?
Complete head-to-head record and recent Test series scores between Pakistan and England.
Pakistan struggled with the bat during the second Test.
England eventually set Pakistan a target of 389 runs, but Pakistan lost three early wickets and were unable to mount a successful chase. Saud Shakeel provided resistance with a score of 97, but England’s bowling attack eventually completed the victory.
The result followed England’s dominant victory in the opening Test, meaning Pakistan must now win the third Test to avoid a 3-0 series loss.
Major changes to Pakistan’s squad
Key players Babar Azam and Joe Root prepare for the final Test clash at Edgbaston.
Pakistan made significant changes after the second-Test defeat.
The Pakistan Cricket Board removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and made several changes to the Test squad. Seven players were sent home, including Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, while new players were added to the group. Mike Hesson is set to take charge for the third Test.
The changes have generated considerable discussion because of the timing and scale of the reshuffle.
Pakistan’s challenge at Edgbaston
Check live streaming channels and match timings for the PAK vs ENG 3rd Test at Edgbaston.
Pakistan face a difficult challenge in Birmingham.
England have already demonstrated their strength with both bat and ball during the series. Pakistan, meanwhile, need improvements in batting consistency and overall team stability.
The third Test will therefore be important not only for the series result but also for Pakistan’s preparations for their upcoming international commitments.
What comes after the England series?
After the England tour, Pakistan are scheduled to return home for a busy period of international cricket.
According to the PCB’s current schedule, Pakistan will host Sri Lanka for three T20Is beginning October 9. England will then join Pakistan and Sri Lanka for an ODI tri-series beginning October 18.
Pakistan’s upcoming home schedule includes:
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I: October 9
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I: October 11
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I: October 13
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: ODI tri-series opener on October 18
- ODI tri-series final: October 31
The PCB has also announced a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in November as part of the World Test Championship.
Mike Hesson’s first Test in charge
Mike Hesson’s appointment gives Pakistan a new voice before the final Test.
Hesson had already been working as Pakistan’s white-ball coach, but he is now being asked to take charge of the Test side following Sarfaraz Ahmed’s removal.
The decision has generated criticism.
Former Pakistan captains and coaches have questioned the timing and logic of the wholesale changes. Reuters reported that Ramiz Raja described the move as Pakistan hitting the “panic button”, while Shahid Afridi questioned the selection of white-ball players for a Test match.
Former Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur also criticized the lack of stability around the team.
That creates an interesting situation for Hesson.
He has two competing objectives:
Short term: Stop England from winning 3-0.
Long term: Help Pakistan build a more stable Test structure.
The first objective comes immediately. There is no time for a lengthy rebuilding process.
Babar Azam returns as Pakistan captain
Another major storyline is Babar Azam’s return to the Test captaincy.
Babar was originally named captain for Pakistan’s 2026 Test tours, but he missed the first Test against England after being struck by a ball during the team’s warm-up match. Salman Ali Agha stepped in and became Pakistan’s 36th Test captain.
With Salman now among the seven players released from the squad, Babar is listed as captain in the updated Birmingham squad.
That makes his return particularly significant.
Pakistan need leadership, but they also need runs. Babar’s contribution with the bat could therefore be just as important as his decisions as captain
Why Pakistan’s next Test is now a major story
Normally, a third Test after a series has already been decided might be treated as a low-stakes match.
This one is different.
Pakistan have effectively pressed the reset button before the final game.
The PCB released seven players after the Lord’s Test: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. The board also released Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul from the Test backroom staff.
Mike Hesson has replaced Sarfaraz, while Ashley Noffke has replaced Umar Gul.
The timing is remarkable: Pakistan are making these changes with only days remaining before the third Test.
Seven players released
The players sent home were:
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Salman Ali Agha
- Ali Usman
- Aamir Jamal
- Muhammad Awais Zafar
- Khurram Shahzad
The PCB has named seven replacements, including five players who are uncapped at Test level.
That means Pakistan’s final XI at Edgbaston could look substantially different from the team that played at Lord’s.
Who has been added to Pakistan’s Test squad?
The PCB’s updated Birmingham squad includes several new faces.
New additions include:
- Saim Ayub
- Abdullah Fazal
- Arafat Minhas
- Mohammad Imran Jnr
- Saad Baig
- Mohammad Imran, also known as Imran Randhawa
- Razaullah
The board says Saim Ayub has played eight Tests, while Abdullah Fazal has appeared in two Tests. Arafat Minhas has represented Pakistan in three ODIs and four T20Is. Saad Baig arrives after being named Player of the Tournament in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
What Pakistan need to fix at Edgbaston
1. Avoid another top-order collapse
Pakistan cannot afford another start like 14 for 3.
The top order needs to survive England’s opening spells and create the foundation for the middle order.
2. Build partnerships
The Saud Shakeel-Shan Masood partnership at Lord’s showed what Pakistan’s batting could look like when two players stay together.
Pakistan need more partnerships like that.
3. Turn good individual performances into team results
Abbas’ five-wicket haul and Shakeel’s 97 were both excellent individual efforts.
But Test cricket rewards sustained performance across five days.
Pakistan need contributions from at least seven or eight players rather than relying on one or two standout performances.
4. Give the new players a clear role
The squad has changed dramatically.
The management must decide quickly who is expected to open, who anchors the middle order, who provides pace, who bowls spin and who takes the wicketkeeping gloves.
Too much experimentation could create more instability.
5. Handle England’s bowling attack
England have already shown they can exploit Pakistan’s batting weaknesses.
The visitors will need a clear plan for England’s seamers and must avoid losing wickets in clusters.
Pakistan vs England 3rd Test: What is at stake?
There is no possibility of Pakistan winning the three-Test series now.
But the final match still matters.
If Pakistan win
The final series score becomes England 2-1 Pakistan.
That would prevent a clean sweep and give the new coaching setup an immediate positive result.
If England win
England complete a 3-0 series victory.
That would leave Pakistan facing difficult questions about their Test structure, selection policy and preparation.
If the match is drawn
England win the series 2-0, while Pakistan avoid a third defeat.
For Pakistan, however, a victory would obviously be the strongest possible response to the changes made before the match.
Pakistan cricket team’s next matches
Pakistan’s currently listed upcoming men’s fixtures include:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| September 9, 2026 | England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test | Edgbaston |
| September 28, 2026 | Pakistan vs TBC, Asian Games quarter-final | Korogi Sports Park |
| October 9, 2026 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I | Rawalpindi |
| October 11, 2026 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I | Rawalpindi |
| October 13, 2026 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I | Rawalpindi |
The Asian Games fixture will depend on the qualifying teams, while the Pakistan-England Test and Pakistan-Sri Lanka fixtures are already listed in the current schedule.
Frequently asked questions
When is Pakistan’s next cricket match?
Pakistan’s next senior men’s international is the third Test against England, beginning September 9, 2026, at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Who will Pakistan play next?
Pakistan will play England in the third Test of their three-match Test series.
Where will Pakistan play England?
The third Test will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
What is the current Pakistan vs England series score?
England lead the three-match series 2-0 after victories in the first two Tests.
What is Pakistan’s next home series?
Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series beginning October 9, followed by an ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England.
Final word
Pakistan’s third Test against England is now the team’s immediate priority. With England already holding a 2-0 series lead, Pakistan need a much-improved performance at Edgbaston to avoid a clean sweep.
The match will also provide an early look at how Pakistan respond to the major coaching and squad changes made after the Lord’s defeat.