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Pakistan Players For Whom The England Tests Will Be A Make-Or-Break



Several Pakistan players will be under pressure in England series [Source: AFP]
Several Pakistan players will be under pressure in England series [Source: AFP]

The stage is set for a riveting Test series as Pakistan will take on hosts England in three Tests, starting from Wednesday, August 19. Pakistan recently levelled the two-match series against the West Indies, but they still need to beat the English team to stand a chance of qualifying for the WTC final.

Heading into the England tour, several Pakistan players are under the firing line and could be dropped from the Test side if they fail to deliver the goods against the English team.

In this article, we take a look at the Pakistan players for whom the England tour will be make-or-break and could decide their future.

1) Imam-ul-Haq

Imam-ul-Haq has been in and out of the Test team, and he was recently drafted back into the team after he delivered in the domestic circuit.

However, Imam couldn’t do much against the Windies as he only scored 89 runs in two Tests, with an average of 22.25. In fact, prior to that, he averaged just 23.50 in the Test series against Bangladesh.

Criterion
Data
Innings
56
Runs scored
1823
Average
35.06

(Imam-ul-Haq Test record)

  • As the data reveals, Imam has been poor in red-ball cricket, and after 56 innings, he has racked up just 1823 runs, with an average of 35.
  • Moreover, since 2023, his red-ball numbers have witnessed a sharp decline as he has only scored 501 runs, with an average of 27.83. Hence, the upcoming England series holds utmost importance for him. A failure in the three-match series could lead to his Test omission once again.

2) Mohammad Rizwan

Another player who has been under the firing line is the wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan. He has been removed from the T20I setup, and was also removed from the ODIs. Moreover, his recent Test record suggests that Pakistan won’t think twice before dropping him.

In two Tests against the West Indies, Rizwan scored just 41 runs, with an average of 13.67. Moreover, his Test record in the last two years has been poor.

Also Read: Big Blow For Pakistan! Babar Azam Doubtful For 1st Test Vs England

Criterion
Data
Innings
17
Runs scored
582
Average
34.24

(Mohammad Rizwan Test stats since 2025)

  • Since 2025, Rizwan has played 17 innings and has scored 582 runs, with an average of 34.24. He has struggled in red-ball cricket and will be under pressure to deliver the goods.
  • In the last 1.5 years, Rizwan has done well in patches, but consistency has been missing, as the wicketkeeper-batter will play the England Test to keep his place in the team.

3) Salman Ali Agha

Another senior Pakistan player for whom the England Tests will be make-or-break will be Salman Agha. His best format remains ODIs, and the batter has failed to replicate the same form in red-ball cricket.

In the West Indies series, Salman Agha played two Tests and scored just 20 runs, with an average of 6.67, showcasing his vulnerability in the longer format.

Criterion
Data
Innings
17
Runs scored
473
Average
27.82

(Salman Agha Test stats since 2025)

  • Since 2025, Salman Agha has not been at his best, as the right-handed player has scored just 473 runs in 17 innings, with an average of 27.82.
  • He lacked runs in the West Indies series, and has not done anything significant since 2025. Hence, if he fails to deliver against England, the selectors might ponder dropping him from the team.

Conclusion

The Pakistan vs England Test tour will be of utmost importance for the visitors as several of their players need to perform to safeguard their place in the red-ball team.

Three senior players, Imam-ul-Haq, Rizwan, and Salman Agha, will be under pressure ahead of the first Test match, and if they fail in the three-match series, PCB has all the reasons to drop them from the Test team.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant Becomes 1st Indian To Hit 100 Test Sixes, Tops Elite List