Ben Stokes to undergo hamstring scan as PAK vs ENG Test series schedule to be announced soon

England Test captain Ben Stokes is set to undergo a scan on his hamstring next week in preparation for the upcoming red-ball series against Pakistan. The England Cricket Board (ECB) hopes Ben Stokes will be fully fit for the three-match Test series, which is scheduled to begin on October 7 in Multan.

The all-rounder injured his hamstring while representing Northern Superchargers in The Hundred 2024. Stokes then missed the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, where Ollie Pope led the England team to a 2-1 victory. He has been working to regain full fitness before the next Test series.

However, the left-handed batter has been named in the 17-member squad for the series against Pakistan despite the injury. Opening batter Zak Crawley has also returned to the team after recovering from a finger injury. The England national cricket team will depart for Pakistan on October 1.

Ben Stokes To Undergo Scan On His Harmstring Next Week

Ben Stokes is set to undergo a scan on his hamstring next week as England monitors his fitness. Stokes has continued training, including a session at Chester-le-Street last week, throughout his recovery. The scan is a routine check on his progress and not due to any injury setback.

Speaking to reporters early last month, Stokes said that he is doing everything possible to be fit for the first Test match in the upcoming Pakistan tour. The Durham all-rounder added that he would take extra time to recover fully rather than risk a more severe setback.

"The recurrence rate of these injuries is 50%, which is quite high. I'd rather take an extra two weeks than run the risk of potentially doing something worse and then putting myself out of the game for longer," Ben Stokes said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

"I'm just making sure that I'm doing everything right and everything I possibly can to try and give myself a chance to being fit for that first Test," he added.

Ollie Pope will continue as captain if Ben Stokes is unavailable for the first Test match in Pakistan. England promoted wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to number six and added an extra bowler against Sri Lanka in Stokes' absence. The England skipper provides balance to the team with both bat and ball.

Pakistan Cricket Board To Announce Full Schedule Within Two Days

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to announce the full schedule for the three-match Test series against England in the next couple of days. The matches are expected to take place in Multan and Rawalpindi. As per the latest news reports, the first two Test matches are likely to be played in Multan.

Karachi has been excluded as a venue for the series due to ongoing construction work. The PCB is planning to host two Tests in Multan to take advantage of local conditions, but the exact schedule is still to be confirmed. There is also a possibility of hosting the first and third Tests in Rawalpindi.

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