PAK vs ENG: Big Blow for England, Star Player Out of First Test Against Pakistan, Who Gets a Chance?

Ben Stokes Out, Ollie Pope to Lead England

Ben Stokes was injured in The Hundred. Stokes is yet to fully recover from the injury. So Stokes has to miss the first match. Ollie Pope will replace Stokes to lead English team in the opening match. Ollie Pope also led English team in the Test series against Sri Lanka. Under Brook’s captaincy, England won the series 2-1.

Debut for Brydon Kars and Return of Chris Woakes

England team management has given fast bowler Braydon Kars a chance to make his debut. Also, Chris Woakes will be seen playing a Test match in Asia for the first time since 2016 and outside English team after two and a half years.

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England Playing XI for the first Test: Ollie Pope (captain), Zach Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Kars, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.

Pakistan Squad for the first Test: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Amir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi.