Stokes returns to England squad for Pakistan test tour: Captain Ben Stokes will return to the England test side after missing this month’s series victory against Sri Lanka, the country’s cricket board (ECB) said on Tuesday after they announced a 17-member squad for October’s tour of Pakistan.
Stokes, who sustained a hamstring tear in English domestic tournament The Hundred last month, is continuing his recovery along with Zak Crawley who fractured his right little finger at Edgbaston in July.
England will tour Pakistan for a three-match series starting from Oct. 7.
“Zak Crawley returns to the squad after missing out since the West Indies series in July.
Spinner Rehan Ahmed, who made his red-ball debut in Karachi during the last Pakistan tour in December 2022, returns to the squad with counterpart Jack Leach who will feature for the first time since the opening test in India in January this year.
England have added eight players from the 2022 squad – Rehan, Harry Brook, Crawley, Ben Duckett, Leach, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Stokes – who had won the last test series 3-0 against Pakistan.
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, Chris Woakes.
