Pakistan’s Test squad received a royal welcome during their ongoing England tour, with Test captain Babar Azam presenting King Charles III with a special cricket bat at Clarence House in London. The formal audience on September 2 brought together PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, players and members of the support staff. The meeting came during a difficult Test series for Pakistan, who are currently trailing England 2-0 with one match remaining.
During the gathering at Clarence House, Babar handed over a cricket bat carrying the signatures of the entire Pakistan touring squad. King Charles examined the bat before asking the Pakistan captain whether it was made from Pakistani willow. The exchange quickly attracted attention across social media, with the moment between Babar and the British monarch being widely shared by cricket fans.
Several Pakistan players were present at the audience, including Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Abdullah Shafique, Azan Awais, Sajid Khan and Mohammad Ali. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed were also part of the delegation. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said King Charles spoke with the players and offered them encouragement during a challenging series.
King Charles was gifted a signed bat by Pakistan’s national cricket team, during their visit to Clarence House in London today. pic.twitter.com/8CCUGiLx4S
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) September 2, 2026
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The royal audience came at a difficult point in Pakistan’s tour. England have taken an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series, winning the opening match by an innings and 103 runs before securing a 194-run victory in the second Test. Babar has also struggled for runs after returning from a finger injury. He scored only 8 and 6 at Lord’s and has now gone 18 Test innings without a half-century.
Pakistan have also made changes to their setup during the tour, with Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha and Imam-ul-Haq drafted into the squad. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were dismissed from their coaching roles, with Hesson and Ashley Noffke taking charge ahead of the third Test.
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