England have unveiled their playing XI for the second Test match against Pakistan in Multan.
Ben Stokes is set to make a return to the side after missing out on four matches due to nursing an injury. Thought to be a hamstring tear, it seems that the English captain has fully recovered from the issue that had him on the shelf since early August.
Stokes has accelerated his recovery over the past week and is set to replace Chris Woakes in one of two changes England is making for the second Test. Matthew Potts will also be brought in to replace Gus Atkinson, who is being rested.
England is preparing for a lower-scoring contest in the second Test, as it will be played on the same pitch used during their innings victory last week. Although the pitch was heavily watered, two days of sun during practice have dried it out, and the worn surface is likely to make spinners a key factor for both sides in the match.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have yet to announce their starting XI, however, key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah have been dropped from the lineup.
England Playing XI
| Zak Crawley | Ben Duckett | Ollie Pope | ||
| Joe Root | Harry Brook | Ben Stokes (C) | ||
| Jamie Smith (WK) | Brydon Carse | Matthew Potts | ||
| Jack Leach | Shoaib Bashir |
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