Ben Stokes Set for Pakistan Series Return

Ben Stokes, England’s captain is reportedly “on track” to participate in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan which begins in 12 days. Stokes, sidelined since he suffered a hamstring injury while playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred at the start of August, underwent a planned scan on Wednesday. The England team confirmed that the scan results looked positive indicating that his recovery progresses well and he remains on schedule to join the squad for the series.

England will travel to Pakistan on Tuesday with the first of three Tests set to kick off in Multan on October 7. Stokes missed England’s recent 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka during which Ollie Pope stepped in as captain. Although Stokes may lead the team in Pakistan, concerns linger about his ability to bowl early in the tour. In a recent Sky Sports interview, Stokes emphasized the importance of not rushing his return.

He noted that he needs to address more than just his hamstring injury. “It was a hamstring tear which sneaked into my tendon,” Ben Stokes explained, adding that this has prolonged his rehabilitation. He expressed optimism about the progress he has made, stating, “Rehab has gone really well, so hopefully everything tomorrow gets the all-clear, and I can start pushing it a bit more.”

In Stokes’ absence against Sri Lanka, England adjusted their batting order by promoting wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to number six and opting for an additional bowler. If Stokes is only fit to bat, the team faces a selection dilemma, potentially necessitating a shift back to four frontline bowlers, supplemented by Joe Root’s off-spin. England achieved a historic three-Test clean sweep during their successful tour of Pakistan in 2022.