New Delhi, September 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former England batter Kevin Pietersen took a playful swipe at Pakistan’s dramatic squad reshuffle ahead of the third Test against England, joking that the toss for the Birmingham match might need to be held a night earlier.
Pakistan have made seven changes to their squad following defeats in the first two Tests, with England taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The sweeping changes have once again placed Pakistan’s team selection under the spotlight ahead of the third Test.
Pietersen focused on the questions Pakistan’s captain is likely to face before the match, particularly the inevitable discussion over changes to the playing XI.
“When a captain is interviewed before every game, the interviewer asks about changes in their team. Could be a v v v v long interview for my buddy, Babar!” Pietersen wrote on X.
He followed it with another tongue-in-cheek remark, suggesting the pre-match toss itself might need to be brought forward because of the amount of discussion expected around Pakistan’s reshuffled side.
“Maybe the toss should start the night before??” he added.
Pakistan head into the Birmingham Test under pressure after surrendering the series 2-0. With seven changes made to their squad, selection is once again expected to be a major talking point before the match.
Pietersen’s comments highlighted the scale of the reshuffle, turning what is normally a routine question about team changes into one of the central talking points surrounding Pakistan’s preparations.
The third Test will therefore carry significance for Pakistan not only as an opportunity to avoid a series clean sweep but also as another test of their selection strategy, with their final XI expected to attract considerable attention when the toss takes place.
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