The England vs Pakistan 2026 Test series begins on August 19 as the two sides meet in a three-match World Test Championship series in England. The tour will take Pakistan to Headingley, Lord’s and Edgbaston, with the final Test finishing on September 13.
The series is particularly interesting because both teams enter a new phase of Test cricket. Joe Root has returned as England captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement, while Pakistan had recalled Babar Azam as Test captain—but Babar has now been ruled out of the first Test with a hand injury. Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan at Headingley.
England vs Pakistan Test Schedule 2026
The England vs Pakistan Test schedule features three matches:
| Test | Date | Venue | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | August 19–23 | Headingley, Leeds | 11:00 AM BST / 3:00 PM PKT |
| 2nd Test | August 27–31 | Lord’s, London | 11:00 AM BST / 3:00 PM PKT |
| 3rd Test | September 9–13 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 11:00 AM BST / 3:00 PM PKT |
The schedule and timings are confirmed by the ECB and PCB.
Headingley Test 2026
The Headingley Test 2026 is the opening match of the series and starts on Wednesday, August 19.
Headingley is traditionally one of England’s more interesting Test venues for fast bowlers, particularly when there is cloud cover or moisture in the surface. Pakistan’s experienced seamers could therefore play an important role, while England will hope its pace attack can exploit home conditions. Recent reports have also highlighted weather and seam movement as potential factors in Leeds.
England Squad for Pakistan Test Series
England have named a 16-player squad for the first two Tests:
- Joe Root (captain)
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- Harry Brook
- Brydon Carse
- Sam Cook
- Jordan Cox
- Ben Duckett
- Matthew Fisher
- Emilio Gay
- Dan Lawrence
- Ollie Pope
- Ollie Robinson
- Jamie Smith
- Josh Tongue
Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Brydon Carse and Sam Cook return to the Test setup, while Jordan Cox is set to take a more prominent role following Jacob Bethell’s injury.
Joe Root Returns as England Captain
One of the biggest storylines is Joe Root’s return to the England captaincy.
Root takes charge after Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket. He has said that England should retain the best elements of the previous era while becoming more adaptable to match situations.
His experience could be crucial against Pakistan, particularly with England also adjusting to a new coaching structure.
Pakistan Squad England 2026
The original Pakistan squad England 2026 announcement contained 17 players, with Saud Shakeel included subject to fitness:
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Fazal
- Ali Usman
- Azan Awais
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Khurram Shahzad
- Mohammad Abbas
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Muhammad Awais Zafar
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori
- Sajid Khan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Saud Shakeel
- Shan Masood
- Ubaid Shah
The PCB originally named Babar as captain for the England tour. However, he will miss the first Test after aggravating a right-hand injury, with Salman Ali Agha taking over as stand-in captain. Pakistan hope Babar could return for the second Test.
Abdullah Fazal was also ruled out of the England series through injury, with Abdullah Shafique subsequently coming into the wider squad setup.
ENG vs PAK Live Streaming
For ENG vs PAK live streaming, viewers in the UK can watch every ball of the Test series on Sky Sports Cricket, with coverage also available through NOW Sports. The BBC will provide daily highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
In Pakistan, viewers should check the latest listings from the licensed local broadcasters, as coverage arrangements can vary by platform. Current listings identify PTV Sports and A Sports among the Pakistan broadcasters for the Pakistan tour of England.
Fans can also follow live scorecards and match updates through the official ECB website and England Cricket app.
Headingley Pitch Report
The Headingley surface could make the first session particularly important.
The venue generally offers assistance to seamers when the ball is new, while batting can become easier if the pitch settles. Overcast English conditions can increase the amount of movement available to fast bowlers.
That makes Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas an interesting player to watch. His ability to move the ball rather than simply rely on pace could be valuable against England’s top order.
England, meanwhile, have Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and other seam options available. A balanced pace attack could give Joe Root plenty of options throughout the Test.
The weather may also influence tactics. If conditions remain cloudy, both captains could be tempted to attack with multiple seamers rather than relying heavily on spin.
Key Players to Watch
Joe Root
Root’s return to captaincy makes him one of the central figures of the series. Beyond leadership, his batting experience in English conditions makes him a major threat to Pakistan.
Harry Brook
Brook will return to his home ground at Headingley and has an excellent record against Pakistan. His aggressive style could put pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers if he survives the new-ball period.
Mohammad Abbas
Pakistan will need experienced bowling performances, especially without Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Test squad. Abbas’ control and movement could be particularly useful in English conditions.
Salman Ali Agha
With Babar unavailable for the opener, Salman faces the biggest leadership challenge of his Test career. He has captained Pakistan in white-ball cricket but will now lead the side in a five-day Test for the first time.
Why England vs Pakistan 2026 Matters
The England vs Pakistan 2026 series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27, so every match carries valuable championship points.
For England, this is an opportunity to begin a new chapter under Root after a difficult period and the end of the Stokes-McCullum era.
For Pakistan, the challenge is even greater. The team has experienced repeated changes in leadership and selection, and losing Babar for the opening Test makes the Headingley assignment tougher.
A strong start could therefore give either side important momentum for the remaining two Tests.
England vs Pakistan 2026: Who Has the Edge?
England will enter the series with home advantage and a bowling attack suited to English conditions. Headingley could particularly favor the hosts if the weather provides movement.
Pakistan, however, have enough experience to make the contest competitive. Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq can provide stability, while Salman Ali Agha now has an unexpected opportunity to make his mark as captain.
The absence of Babar is a significant blow, but it also gives Pakistan a chance to show that the team can perform without depending on one star player.
Final Verdict
The England vs Pakistan 2026 Test series promises an intriguing battle between two teams undergoing major changes.
England begin a new era with Joe Root back as captain, while Pakistan must adjust quickly after Babar Azam was ruled out of the Headingley opener. The first Test starts on August 19, followed by Lord’s from August 27 and Edgbaston from September 9.
With English conditions likely to bring the fast bowlers into the game, the opening sessions could prove decisive.
If Pakistan’s seamers can exploit Headingley and Salman Agha handles the captaincy pressure, the visitors have a genuine chance. But England’s home advantage, experienced batting and pace depth make them the early favorites for the opening Test.
