File Pic: Babar Azam (Video grab)

Kevin Pietersen has taken a cheeky swipe at Pakistan’s dramatic squad reshuffle ahead of the third Test against England, joking that the team’s captain may need to spend an unusually long time answering questions about changes before the toss.Pakistan have made wholesale changes after losing the opening two Tests of the three-match series, with seven players released from the squad and two members of the coaching staff also shown the door.The scale of the overhaul prompted Pietersen to poke fun at the situation on social media, suggesting that even the routine pre-match captain’s interview could become a lengthy affair.

‘Could be a v v v v long interview’

Pietersen, who played 104 Tests for England, addressed the changes in a post on X, referring to Babar Azam as his “buddy” while highlighting the inevitable questions the Pakistan captain will face before the third Test.“When a captain is interviewed before every game, the interviewer asks about changes in their team. Could be a v v v v long interview for my buddy, Babar! Maybe the toss should start the night before??,” Pietersen posted.The former England batter’s remark came shortly after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced seven changes to its Test squad following the team’s 194-run defeat to England at Lord’s.Pakistan had already suffered an innings-and-103-run defeat in the first Test at Leeds, leaving them 0-2 down in the series and facing the prospect of a clean sweep.

Seven players released, coaching staff reshuffled

The PCB released Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad from the Test squad.The board also made changes to the coaching setup, releasing red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will now join the backroom staff for the remainder of the England tour.“The Pakistan Cricket Board has today announced that seven players have been released from the Test squad following completion of the Lord’s Test. A total of seven replacements have been named including five uncapped players at Test level and two capped players,” the PCB said in its statement.

Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal among replacements

Pakistan have brought in Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have eight and two Tests respectively, while Arafat Minhas has also been added to the squad.Four players yet to make their Test debuts — Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah — have also been included.The changes mean Pakistan will head into the third Test with a significantly different group from the one that began the series.Pietersen’s joke has added another layer to the extraordinary selection saga, with the spotlight now firmly on Babar and the composition of Pakistan’s XI when the third Test begins at Edgbaston on September 9.

Pakistan will be looking to avoid a 3-0 series sweep and end a difficult tour on a positive note.