England v Pakistan: live broadcast and streaming for 1st Test at Headingley on August 19, 2026
England and Pakistan will open their three-match Test series at Headingley in Leeds on August 19, 2026, with the first match forming the opening fixture of Pakistan’s tour of England. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM (IST) with the toss at 3:00 PM (IST); in England the game will begin at 11:00 AM with the toss at 10:30 AM.
The series arrives amid significant changes in both teams’ leadership. Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket and Brendon McCullum was sacked from his Test team coaching role; both are no longer involved with the Test team. Joe Root, who stepped down as the captain of the England Test team three years ago, will be captaining the side again, while Marcus Trescothick will take the role of interim head coach for the series against Pakistan. Pakistan also underwent a captaincy change with Babar Azam returning as captain following the end of Shan Masood’s tenure.
Babar Azam sustained a right hand injury while playing a warm-up match against the Professional County Club Select XI and will not be available to play in the first Test. In Babar’s absence Salman Agha will captain the Pakistan side for the opening match at Headingley. The injury and temporary change of leadership affect Pakistan’s lineup for the first fixture only as reported.
Viewers in India can watch the match on Sony Sports Channels, with live streaming available via the Sony Liv app and on the Sony Liv website. The coverage details list both the linear telecast and the digital streaming options for Indian audiences. Broadcasters have confirmed those platforms will carry live coverage of the game in India.
In England the match will be shown on Sky Sports Network. Fans in Pakistan can access live streaming through Tapmad, while PTV Sports and Ten Sports will provide live telecast of the series in Pakistan. Those broadcasters are listed as the official television and streaming partners for their respective territories.
The first Test of the Pakistan tour of England is scheduled to begin on August 19, 2026, at Headingley in Leeds, England.