Cricket’s most storied rivalries rarely stay quiet for long, and this summer it’s Pakistan’s turn to travel to England for a series that carries far more weight than a typical bilateral contest. With the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle in full swing, the three-match Test series between England and Pakistan is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched assignments of the year, not least because Pakistan have made a bold leadership change just weeks before the first ball is bowled.
When is Pak Vs Eng Test Series and Matches?
The tour runs from 19 August to 13 September 2026, with three Tests played across three iconic English venues:
- 1st Test – Headingley, Leeds (19–23 August)
- 2nd Test – Lord’s, London (27–31 August)
- 3rd Test – Edgbaston, Birmingham (9–13 September)
All three matches carry full World Test Championship points, meaning both sides have real incentive to fight for results rather than settle into safety-first cricket — especially Pakistan, who finished bottom of the previous WTC cycle and will be desperate to arrest that slide.
Babar Azam Is Back as Captain
The biggest story heading into the series is Pakistan’s decision to reinstate Babar Azam as Test captain, replacing Shan Masood. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the move on 5 July 2026 when the national selection committee — including Aqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, and Misbah-ul-Haq — announced squads for the back-to-back away assignments against West Indies and England.
Masood’s near three-year tenure had been a difficult chapter in Pakistan’s Test history, and results never really justified the faith shown in him, capped by a chastening series defeat to Bangladesh.
Babar, by contrast, has a stronger record as captain: Pakistan won 10 of the 20 Tests he led between 2020 and 2023, including series victories over South Africa, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and he himself averaged over 50 with the bat during that stretch. Whether he can rediscover that captaincy form — and his own batting touch, which has dipped to an average in the mid-20s in recent times — will go a long way toward deciding how competitive Pakistan are in England.
Pakistan’s Squad for England Test Series
Pakistan named a 17-member squad for the England leg of the tour (one more than the West Indies squad, with Saud Shakeel added as the 17th member, subject to passing a fitness test):
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Sajid Khan, Ali Usman, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Ubaid Shah
A few things stand out:
- Four uncapped players — left-arm spinner Ali Usman, batter Muhammad Awais Zafar, pacer Ubaid Shah, and keeper-batter Ghazi Ghori — have been included, a sign the selectors are also using this tour to look toward the future.
- Left-arm spin cover: veteran Noman Ali, though not part of the core squad, has signed a short county deal with Lancashire and will be based in England, available to be called upon if Pakistan need spin reinforcements — a smart bit of contingency planning on unfamiliar English pitches.
- Pakistan’s attack leans heavily on seam and swing, which suits English conditions, but the batting order (especially the middle order without a fully fit Saud Shakeel) will be under scrutiny.
England’s Squad for Pakistan Test Series
England go into the series under Joe Root’s Test captaincy, backed by a squad blending established names with fresh faces. Some of the storylines already emerging:
- Injury concern at the top of the order: Opener Emilio Gay picked up a shoulder injury playing in the One-Day Cup just days out from the series, leaving England potentially short at the top.
- Ollie Pope’s recall: Pope has been brought back into the fold as a utility batter, with an eye also on next summer’s Ashes.
- Sam Curran in the frame: Curran, who hasn’t featured in Test cricket since 2021, missed the initial squad due to fitness concerns but is being talked about as a possible addition for the third Test.
- National selector Luke Wright (referred to as “North” in some reports) addressed the media after the squad announcement, saying the panel felt they had “all the bases covered” heading into the series.
England will fancy their chances at home, particularly with the pace-friendly conditions of an English August, but a stretched batting lineup due to injuries could open the door for Pakistan’s disciplined seam attack.
Why This Series Matters
Beyond the head-to-head bragging rights, both teams have real WTC stakes:
- Pakistan are trying to rebuild credibility after a torrid 2023–25 cycle, and a returning Babar Azam adds both promise and pressure.
- England, under the “Bazball” era’s evolving identity, will want to keep pace in the standings while also blooding players like Pope and Cox with next year’s Ashes on the horizon.
With three Tests at three of England’s most famous grounds — Headingley’s unpredictable seam movement, Lord’s history and prestige, and Edgbaston’s raucous atmosphere — expect swinging fortunes, individual battles (Babar vs. England’s pace attack, Rizwan’s keeping under pressure, England’s new-look top order against Pakistan’s seamers), and a series that could genuinely go either way.
Bottom line:
This isn’t just another away tour for Pakistan — it’s a referendum on Babar Azam’s second stint as captain and a chance for England to show their squad depth holds up even with injuries biting early. Cricket fans on both sides should circle 19 August on the calendar.
Lucky Raina is a complete cricket writer chasing corporate dreams by day and cricket stories by night. Once a promising Under 16 cricketer, life took him down a different pitch but the love for the game never left.
