 is gearing up to drop the schedule for the Test series between Pakistan and England in the next two days.){kind=link}
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is gearing up to drop the schedule for the much-anticipated Test series between Pakistan and England in the next two days, according to reports. With the first Test set to get underway on October 7, cricket fans are buzzing with excitement.
But there are certain clouds of uncertainty hovering over the much-awaited series.
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Ben Stokes Presence
England’s captain Ben Stokes is arguably the best all-rounder in the longer format of the game. However, his participation in the series against Pakistan is doubtful. The big question everyone’s talking about is whether Stokes will be fit to lead his team.
He hurt his hamstring back in August, and while he’s been named in the 17-member squad for the Pakistan tour, he’s not exactly in peak condition. He’s scheduled for a crucial scan next week that’ll determine if he’s ready to hit the field for the series opener.
The Venue Shuffle
The PCB is planning to host the first two Tests in Multan and the final one in Rawalpindi. But there’s a chance the venues might get shuffled around, with the first and third Tests possibly being moved to Rawalpindi.
Initially, Karachi was scheduled to host one of the Test but due to ongoing construction work, plans were changed.
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What to Expect?
While England have announced their squad, Pakistan’s preparations are far from ideal. There are few changes expected in the team, which lost to Bangladesh last month. There are few speculations about the change in captaincy, which will be decided in the PCB’s Connection Camp later this month.
However, one thing is guaranteed, this series will be interesting, considering the intense matches between the two countries in the past. This will be England’s second tour of Pakistan in two years. They won the last Test series 3-0 in December 2022.
England Squad for Pakistan Tour
Ben Stokes (C), 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, and Chris Woakes.
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