Ben Stokes Doubtful For 1st Pakistan Test, Zak Crawley Fit To Play

England captain Ben Stokes is facing uncertainty regarding his participation in the first Test against Pakistan, set to begin on October 7, 2024, in Multan.

Stokes is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred, which also caused him to miss the Sri Lanka series. England will make a last-minute call on his fitness, as he has resumed some light training, including running.

Crawley said, “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.”

England is expected to reveal their playing eleven ahead of the series opener on Monday. 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.

On his fitness, Crawley said that the injury is now all right and he has recovered well from it.

“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,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, opener Zak Crawley has confirmed that he is fit to play after recovering from a broken finger that kept him out of the Sri Lankan series. Crawley expressed confidence in England’s squad depth, emphasizing that they are ready with a balanced team regardless of Stokes’ availability.

As England looks ahead to the series, they currently sit fourth in the ICC World Test Championship standings, while Pakistan, under Shan Masood, are under pressure following a series of home losses, with their last Test victory on home soil dating back to February 2021.