Pakistan drop seven players and release head coach

Pakistan have responded to their series defeat by England by taking the extraordinary step of dropping seven players, calling up five uncapped players and releasing their head coach.

After two one-sided defeats in the first two Tests, the tourists have revamped their squad and backroom staff for the third and final match of the series at Edgbaston.

Five of the players dropped - Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad - have featured in the series so far, while Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar have been sent home without playing.

A total of seven players have been called up. Batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have previous Test experience and join the quintet of uncapped newcomers.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Arafat Minhas, left-arm seamer Mohammed Imran Jr, wicketkeeper Said Baig and all-rounders Mohammad Imran and Razaullah have all received call-ups.

In addition, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his assistant Umar Gul have been released to be replaced by Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson and former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke.

Pakistan have been abject in the opening two Tests, losing the first at Headingley by an innings and the second at Lord's by 194 runs. They have been bowled out for less than 200 in each of their four innings.

The response is remarkable. For a touring team to send home seven players and the head coach mid-series is unprecedented.