PAK vs ENG: Ben Stokes discusses fitness ahead of first Test against Pakistan
England captain Ben Stokes shared an update on his fitness ahead of the first Test during a chat with British journalists in Multan on Saturday.
Stokes expressed his frustration about missing the upcoming match.
“I tried my best to be ready for the first Test, but I had to make the decision to sit out,” he said. “I just wasn’t able to prepare properly for the game.”
Earlier that day, Stokes announced that he wouldn’t be available for the series after realizing during a training session that he still needed more time to rest. He had injured his hamstring during the Hundred League, and despite his efforts to recover, he wasn’t fit enough to play.
With Stokes out, Ollie Pope will step in as captain for the first match.
The 33-year-old all-rounder also explained his physical condition, saying, “I still have a lot of rehab to do, especially considering my future and fitness. Right now, I’m not fully ready.”
Stokes confirmed that he’ll only be absent for the first Test, which starts on October 7. He has around 10 days to prepare for the second Test, during which he plans to resume bowling.
“Even though I won’t be playing, I have goals I need to focus on. I’ve worked hard with the medical team to get fit, and over the next 10 days, I plan to add bowling to my training,” Stokes added.
Meanwhile, the first Test between England and Pakistan, led by Shan Masood, will take place on Monday at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Schedule:
- Oct 7-11 – First Test, Multan
- Oct 15-19 – Second Test, Multan
- Oct 24-28 – Third Test, Rawalpindi
England Playing XI:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse (Debut), Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
Pakistan Squad (for 1st Test):
Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Shaheen Shah Afridi.
