PAK vs ENG: England Skipper Ben Stokes Doubtful For 1st Test Against Pakistan, Zak Crawley Fit

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England skipper Ben Stokes remains doubtful for the first Test against Pakistan, starting on Monday (October 7), but fit-again Zak Crawley is available for selection in the series opener, scheduled to be played at the Multan Cricket Ground.

Stokes suffered a hamstring injury during The Hundred in August, forcing him out of England's triumph against Sri Lanka (2-1) and it was Ollie Pope who led the side in the veteran's absence.

Crawley, meanwhile, suffered a broken finger during the West Indies series in June, which saw him miss the Sri Lankan series as well. Dan Lawrence opened the batting alongside Ben Duckett in Crawley's absence.

Stokes had revealed that he did not want to rush his comeback last month. And now his compatriot Crawley has given the latest update on the captain's and his own availability for the 1st Test in Multan.

"We have got a really deep squad, with plenty of options with the ball and with the bat as well. We feel ready. Whatever team comes out, it will be a nice balance either way," Crawley was quoted as saying on Wisden.

England is expected to reveal their playing eleven a day ahead of the series opener on Monday (October 7). On Stokes' fitness, Crawley said that a last-minute call could be made on his return.

"He (Stokes) seems to be going well, recovering well from his injury. We do not know just yet. I think he has got to do a few more tests, but he's been doing some running and stuff," Crawley said.

If Stokes does miss out, Pope will once again lead England as the stand-in skipper. Brydon Carse could be in line for a Test debut as the bowling all-rounder, but England may look to go spin heavy with Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir being named in the squad.

On his own fitness, Crawley said, "It was a nasty break at the time, but I have recovered well and I do not feel it at all while I am batting. In the field, I have not done too much. I am trying to rest it, but I did a few catches there [in training] and it feels fine."

England will face Pakistan in a three-Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship. Although a final berth may be a little hard to come by, both teams will look to improve their positions on the WTC points table.

England is currently in fourth on the WTC standings with eight wins, seven losses and a draw with recent series wins against West Indies and Sri Lanka. Pakistan are eighth in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 standings after their series loss to Bangladesh at home.

The Shan Masood-led side are under pressure heading into the first Test against England, with their last win in a home Test dating back to February 2021. Pakistan have not won a home Test match in their last 10 attempts, which includes a 3-0 series loss to England in 2022.

England Test squad for Pakistan

Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.