Ben Stokes has officially been ruled out of the opening Test of England’s three-match series against Pakistan, which begins on October 7 in Multan. The England Test captain has been recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in August and has not yet regained full match fitness, prompting the team’s management to rest him for the first game of the series.
In Stokes’ absence, vice-captain Ollie Pope will lead the side. Pope, who recently captained England to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka, will continue to step in for Stokes during this critical matchup against Pakistan. Although Stokes traveled with the squad and participated in training, lingering concerns about his fitness led to the decision to keep him out of the opening match.
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Stokes’ injury, sustained while playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred on August 11, ended his participation in the remainder of the English summer. His absence is a significant blow to England, as his leadership and all-round capabilities have been pivotal to their recent success under head coach Brendon McCullum.
Despite this setback, England will field a strong team with key players such as Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, and former captain Joe Root. Pakistan, currently grappling with a dip in form, will face a confident and determined England side as the series gets underway.
