Pakistan received a positive fitness update ahead of their three-match Test series against England, with batter Shan Masood returning to full team training at Beckenham on August 11.
The left-hander, who suffered a finger injury while playing the first Test of the Caribbean tour against the West Indies, has completed batting practice under medical supervision and appears to be ready for the series opener.
Masood injured his finger in the first Test of Pakistan’s recent series against the West Indies in the Caribbean, and he watched from the sidelines as the team ended a three-year skid with their first away win since 2023 in the second Test.
However, as confirmed by the ICC, the brilliant left-hander practiced alongside the rest of Pakistan’s squad and appears to be on track to return to the lineup for the first Test against England in Leeds on August 19.
Pakistan has named a 17-member squad for the three Tests, which are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle. The series kicks off on August 19, 2026, at Headingley in Leeds, and will continue at two other historic English venues thru September.
The squad’s preparations include a three-day tour match against a Professional County Club Select XI on August 13, 2026. That fixture was originally scheduled for four days before being trimmed, and it provides Pakistan’s players with an important opportunity to improve their match sharpness ahead of the first Test.
How did Pakistan do in the West Indies before heading to England?
Pakistan’s two-Test trip of the Caribbean produced varied results. Masood’s finger injury during the first Test curtailed his participation, raising early concerns about his availability for the England assignment. Despite Pakistan’s 90-run loss, Masood was in excellent form with the bat, scoring 109 in the first innings.
The team responded positively in the second Test, however, securing their first win on foreign soil since 2023. That success broke a three-year winless streak away from home and will have raised the mood significantly among the touring party as they turned their attention to England.
Where does Pakistan stand in the World Test Championship heading into the series?
Pakistan is currently ranked seventh in the ICC World Test Championship, making the three-Test series against England a key block of fixtures in the 2025-2027 cycle. Every point earned during the three matches will have a direct impact on their final WTC position.
The calendar is divided into three venues: the first Test at Headingley, from August 19 to 23, the second at Lord’s, from August 27 to 31, and the third at Edgbaston from September 9 to 13. A strong series result might significantly enhance Pakistan’s position on the table.
Pakistan’s entire team for the 2026 England Test series
Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Ubaid Shah.
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