Star English all-rounder Ben Stokes is likely to play in the second Test of the ongoing three-match series against Pakistan. The second red-ball match between Pakistan and England is scheduled to take place at Multan Cricket Stadium from Tuesday (October 15) onwards. Stokes, who was appointed as England’s Test captain in April 2022, missed the series opener due to a hamstring injury that he suffered while playing in the men’s Hundred competition earlier this year.
According to England’s spokesperson, Stokes is on course to return for the second match. He practiced with the team on Sunday, and if he is declared fit to play, then he will come in place of Chris Woakes.
“Ben bowled about four overs at full pace today. He has done some high-intensity running and had about a 45-minute batting session in the nets,” England’s spokesman was quoted as saying by AFP. “He will be assessed after today, and a decision will be made on his availability over the course of the next 24 hours.”
England normally announces their team two days before the start of a Test, but will wait until a final verdict on Stokes’s fitness on Monday before announcing their side.
In the absence of Stokes, Ollie Pope led England in the last four Test matches and won three. Under his leadership, England crushed Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs in the series opener played at Multan Cricket Ground earlier this week.
Pakistan to drop Babar and Shaheen
After suffering humiliating defeat in the series opener, Pakistan is all set to drop Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the second Test. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, Babar’s dropping was recommended by the newly formed selection committee, which met in Lahore on Friday after Pakistan’s defeat in the series opener.
Babar has been horribly out of form these days and has not scored a fifty even for the Pakistani team in his last 18 Test innings. There were high expectations from him in the first Test, but the right-handed batter got out after making 30 and 5 runs.
Shaheen, on the other hand, was only able to take one wicket in the series opener despite bowling 26 overs in which he conceded 120 runs.
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