Pakistan vs England Test Series 2026

Pakistan tour of England 2026 — Full Test Schedule

Pakistan's 2026 tour of England is a three-match Test series, forming part of both teams' World Test Championship campaign. It follows Pakistan's two-Test tour of the West Indies and arrives in England in the second half of August, running through to mid-September. Each Test is a five-day match, played at three of English cricket's most historic grounds.

Pakistan Squad for the England Test Series 2026

The PCB's National Selection Committee named a 17-member squad for the England leg of Pakistan's tour, led by Babar Azam as captain. The squad blends experienced campaigners with four uncapped players — left-arm spinner Ali Usman, batter Muhammad Awais Zafar, pace bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper Muhammad Ghazi Ghori — and includes Saud Shakeel as the 17th member, subject to a fitness clearance.

Squad confirmed at the PCB press conference in Lahore on 5 July 2026. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali is reported to be based in the UK and available as spin cover if required. Always check the PCB's official channels for any late team changes before travel.

England Squad for the Pakistan Test Series 2026

England's squad arrives at a pivotal moment: this is Joe Root's first series back in the Test captaincy following Ben Stokes' departure from the role, and the first assignment of the post-Stokes, post-Bazball era with Stephen Fleming set to take over as head coach later in the year. The ECB has confirmed a 16-player squad for the opening two Tests, with Jordan Cox coming in at No.3 for the injured Jacob Bethell and Surrey pair Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence recalled to the middle order.

Squad confirmed by the ECB for the first two Tests of the series; a squad for the Edgbaston decider is expected to be named closer to that match. Jacob Bethell (injury) and Sam Curran (fitness) are the notable absentees.

Babar Azam Captaincy Records

Babar Azam heads into the England series as statistically Pakistan's finest Test captain with the bat. As of early August 2026, he has scored 1,883 runs in 38 innings while leading the side in Test cricket, at an average of 53.77 with four centuries — the highest batting average of any Pakistan captain with at least 1,000 Test runs as skipper, ahead of Saleem Malik (52.35) and Imran Khan (52.34). Inzamam-ul-Haq, Misbah-ul-Haq and Javed Miandad are the only other former captains to also average above 50 while leading the side.

Beyond the red-ball numbers, Babar also recently became only the third player to captain Pakistan in 150 international matches across all formats, joining Imran Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq in that club. His white-ball captaincy record includes 26 wins from 43 ODIs across two separate spells in charge, and a Pakistan record 85 T20I matches as captain with 48 victories, though he stepped back from white-ball leadership in 2024 to focus on his batting and Test captaincy.

Babar Azam's Test Record in England

England has historically been one of the tougher tours for Babar Azam compared with his numbers at home and in Asia. His most recent visit as captain, the 2022 tour that ended 3-0 to England, saw him finish as Pakistan's leading run-scorer in the series with 348 runs — a reminder that even in a heavy series defeat, he remained the side's most reliable batter. Seam-friendly conditions, the Dukes ball's extra movement and England's aggressive "Bazball" era bowling plans have generally pushed his average in English conditions below his outstanding overall Test numbers.

For this 2026 series, Babar's ability to adapt early to English swing and seam bowling, particularly in the opening Headingley Test, is likely to set the tone for Pakistan's batting throughout the tour. TripNext will update this section with ball-by-ball form and updated averages as the series progresses.

Joe Root Stats as Captain

Joe Root returns for a second stint as England's Test captain, having taken the armband back after Ben Stokes' departure from the leadership. His first spell, from 2017 to 2022, remains one of the most statistically significant in English cricket history.

Root's first stint included standout series wins at home to India in 2018 and away to South Africa in 2019/20, but never delivered an Ashes series win — England lost all three Ashes contested under his leadership. His batting form dipped noticeably while captain compared with his numbers outside the role, before a stunning resurgence once he handed the armband to Ben Stokes in 2022, when he was freed to focus purely on batting.

For 2026, Root leads a young, transitional England side against Pakistan as new head coach Stephen Fleming settles in, with the series against Pakistan seen as an important audition for England's leadership going into the next Ashes cycle.

Where to Watch Pakistan vs England Live

Whether you're watching from Karachi, Lahore or anywhere else in Pakistan, or catching the series from the UK, here's exactly where to stream and watch every ball of the three Tests.

Watching in Pakistan

Watching in the UK

England vs Pakistan Tickets 2026

Ticket demand for a Pakistan Test series in England is always high given the size and passion of the British Pakistani community, and Lord's in particular sells out quickly. Here's how to buy tickets for each venue, along with typical pricing and availability.

How to buy tickets

Ticket prices & availability

As a general guide, a general admission ground ticket for a weekday session typically starts from around £30-£40 at Headingley and Edgbaston, while Lord's — English cricket's most in-demand ground — commands a premium, with prime pavilion and members' areas running well over £100 for a weekend day. Prices and availability change constantly as tickets are released in phases, so always check each ground's official site directly rather than relying on resale platforms, and be wary of third-party sellers charging well above face value.

Hotels Near the Grounds

Where you stay depends on which Test you're attending and your budget. Booking early is essential for all three grounds, since hotel rates in Leeds, London and Birmingham rise sharply around match days.

Hotels near Headingley cricket ground

Headingley sits around 2-3 miles north-west of Leeds city centre. A small cluster of budget and mid-range hotels sit within walking distance of the ground in the Headingley/Burley area, while the much wider choice of hotels — including most major UK chains — is in Leeds city centre, a short taxi, bus or train ride from the stadium on match days.

Hotels near Lord's, London

Lord's sits in St John's Wood, north-west London, close to Regent's Park and well connected to central London by the Jubilee line. Expect London-level hotel pricing, especially over the Test's weekend days — booking as early as possible, ideally as soon as your travel dates are confirmed, will get the best rates.

Hotels near Edgbaston, Birmingham

Edgbaston is around 2 miles south-west of Birmingham city centre, with a good spread of hotels both near the ground itself and in the city centre, which offers the widest choice of budget-to-premium options and easy transport links to the stadium.

England Weather During the Pakistan Test Series

English weather in late summer can swing from warm and sunny to overcast and showery within the same day, so packing for all conditions is essential for a Test match trip.

As a rule, pack layers, a light waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for every Test. September in Birmingham typically runs noticeably cooler than August in Leeds and London, so travellers attending the Edgbaston decider should pack warmer clothing than for the earlier two matches.

Flying from Pakistan to the UK for the Series

With three Tests spread across five weeks and three different cities, getting your flights right matters as much as your match tickets. PIA operates the only direct flights between Pakistan and the UK, flying non-stop from London Heathrow to Islamabad and Lahore, and from Manchester to Islamabad. Every other airline — Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air and Saudia — connects through a Gulf, Turkish or Saudi hub, generally with a higher baggage allowance and wider choice of Pakistani departure cities.

For a full breakdown of every airline flying this route — fares, baggage allowances, direct versus connecting options and the cheapest months to fly — read our complete guide: Best Airlines for UK to Pakistan Flights 2026. And when you're ready to book, TripNext compares live fares across every airline on our UK to Pakistan flights page.