[WATCH] Babar Azam presents signed Pakistan bat to King Charles III during London audience

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam presented King Charles III with a cricket bat signed by the entire Pakistan touring squad during a formal audience at Clarence House in London on September 2, 2026.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and several players and support staff attended the gathering hosted by the British monarch. The British High Commissioner was also present at the occasion.

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Players confirmed at the meeting included 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 that attended the audience.

During the presentation, King Charles examined the bat and asked Babar whether it was Pakistani willow. The exchange was widely shared online and drew significant attention across cricket social media. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi noted that King Charles spoke with the players and offered them encouragement during what has been a difficult series.

Pakistan's difficult series backdrop

The royal visit came against the backdrop of a troubled England tour for Pakistan. England hold an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series, having won the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs. Pakistan failed to reach 200 in any single innings across those two matches, and were bowled out for 110 in the first innings at Lord's before being dismissed for 194 chasing a target of 389 in the second innings.

Babar sat out the first Test due to a finger injury and managed only 8 and 6 at Lord's. He has now gone 18 Test innings without a half-century, and his Test average since the start of 2023 has fallen below 21 across nine Tests.

Pakistan also made significant changes to their touring group mid-series. Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and injured opener Imam-ul-Haq were drafted into the squad. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were both dismissed during the tour, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke taking charge of the side for the third Test. Some players were also sent back home amid scrutiny over performances. The third and final Test of the series is the remaining fixture on the schedule.