#Latest News: Pakistan Change Head Coach After England Series Disaster
Pakistan have made a major coaching change after England took a 2-0 lead in the three match Test series. The Pakistan Cricket Board has released Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul following the second Test at Lord’s. The decision comes after Pakistan suffered another heavy defeat and struggled to find consistency with both bat and ball during the series.
The change is part of a much wider shake up in Pakistan’s Test setup. Along with the two coaches the PCB has also released seven players from the squad and brought in seven replacements for the third Test. The team will now enter the final match of the series with a very different squad and coaching combination as it looks to respond after losing the series.
Mike Hesson will take charge of the Test team while Ashley Noffke will replace Umar Gul in the bowling setup. Hesson was already working as Pakistan’s white ball head coach and will now have the immediate challenge of preparing the reshaped Test side for the third match at Edgbaston in Birmingham starting on September 9.
Who Was Pakistan's Head Coach Before This New Change?
Sarfaraz Ahmed was Pakistan’s head coach before the latest change in the Test setup. The former Pakistan captain was appointed as the red ball head coach in April 2026 after the Pakistan Cricket Board selected him to lead the Test team. He returned to the setup soon after announcing his retirement from international cricket in March 2026.
Sarfaraz started his coaching role with the Pakistan Test team during the Bangladesh tour where he worked alongside Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul. He then continued with the Test side during the England series. However Pakistan lost the first two Tests against England and fell 2-0 behind in the three match series. The PCB subsequently released Sarfaraz and Umar Gul before the third Test and brought in Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.
Sarfaraz had a long international career before moving into coaching. He played 54 Tests for Pakistan and captained the national team in all three formats. His biggest achievement as captain came in 2017 when Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy. His short spell as Test head coach ended with the PCB making a major mid series change after the defeats in England.
Why Did Pakistan Change Their Head Coach After the England Series?
Pakistan changed their Test head coach after England secured a 2-0 series lead with a heavy 194 run victory at Lord’s. The result followed another major defeat in the opening Test and increased pressure on Pakistan’s Test setup. The team also struggled badly with the bat and failed to score more than 200 in any innings across the first two Tests.
The Pakistan Cricket Board responded with a much wider overhaul rather than making only a coaching change. Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were released while seven players were also sent home. The PCB then brought in Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke for the final Test as Pakistan looked for a fresh approach after losing the series.
The timing of the decision shows how seriously the PCB viewed the team’s performance. Sarfaraz had only been appointed Test head coach in April 2026 so the change came after a relatively short period in the role. Mike Hesson now faces an immediate challenge as Pakistan prepare for the third Test at Edgbaston on September 9 with a heavily reshaped squad and a chance to avoid a 3 0 series defeat.
Who Is Pakistan New Head Coach and What Has He Done Before?
Mike Hesson is the new head coach of Pakistan Test team for the third Test against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board brought him into the red ball setup after releasing Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul following the second Test at Lord’s. Hesson was already Pakistan’s white ball head coach and will now take responsibility for the Test side as well.
Hesson brings significant international coaching experience to Pakistan. He previously served as head coach of New Zealand and Kenya and has also worked in franchise cricket. The PCB appointed him as Pakistan’s white ball head coach in May 2025 and he has since worked with the national team across major limited overs assignments.
His immediate challenge is very different from his previous role because Pakistan are coming into the third Test after England secured a 2-0 series lead. Hesson will have to work with a reshaped squad after seven players were released and seven replacements were added. He will also work alongside Ashley Noffke who has replaced Umar Gul as the bowling coach for the third Test.
How Can Pakistan's New Head Coach Help the Team in Future Matches?
Mike Hesson can help Pakistan by bringing a fresh approach to a Test side that has struggled for consistency during the England series. His immediate task is to understand the reshaped squad and create a clear plan for each player. Pakistan have already made major changes by releasing seven players and adding several new faces so Hesson will need to build confidence and stability within the new group.
One of his biggest priorities will be improving Pakistan’s batting. The team failed to score more than 200 runs in any innings across the first two Tests which shows how badly Pakistan need stronger batting partnerships and better decision making at the crease. Hesson can also help young players understand their roles instead of putting too much pressure on them to perform immediately.
Hesson has already worked with Pakistan white ball teams and has focused on developing the player pool and preparing younger talent for international cricket. That experience could become valuable as Pakistan bring players such as Saim Ayub Arafat Minhas and Saad Baig into the Test setup. His longer term challenge will be to create a more settled team with clear roles and greater competition for places across the squad.
If Hesson can combine experienced players with emerging talent and give the Test side a clear tactical identity he could help Pakistan build greater consistency in future matches. The third Test against England will be his first major opportunity to show what changes he can bring to the red ball team.
#Mike Hesson Pakistan new head coach #Mike Hesson Pakistan Test coach #Pakistan Test head coach #Sarfaraz Ahmed replaced #Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked as Pakistan coach #Pakistan coaching change #Pakistan cricket coaching change #Pakistan new coach after England series #Mike Hesson takes charge Pakistan #Ashley Noffke Pakistan bowling