England captain Ben Stokes is set to undergo a scan on his hamstring injury next week as the team awaits a verdict on his fitness for the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan.
The 33-year-old sustained the injury in early August, missing England's 2-1 series defeat to Sri Lanka. Despite his layoff, the 33-year-old has been actively involved in training, including a lengthy net session at Durham's Chester-le-Street last week and participation in the Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship golf at Wentworth.
The upcoming scan is scheduled as part of the monitoring process for his recovery, rather than in response to any setbacks. The first Test of the three-match series is scheduled to begin on October 7.
Earlier this month, Stokes expressed his intention to approach his return cautiously, prioritizing a full recovery over rushing back and risking further injury. "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," he said.
Despite the injury, the batting all-rounder has been included in the 17-man squad that will depart for Pakistan on October 1. If he is ruled out of the first Test, Ollie Pope is expected to continue as captain.
The possibility of Stokes being able to only bat presents a selection dilemma for England. If they choose to maintain the balance they favored against Sri Lanka, Stokes would likely have to bat in the top five, displacing one of the regular top-order batsmen. To avoid this scenario, England could revert to four frontline bowlers, supplemented by Joe Root's off-spin, a tactic they employed earlier this year when Stokes was unable to bowl due to a knee injury.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains regarding the venues for the three Tests, despite England's departure approaching. While the original plan was to play in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan, construction work in Karachi may prevent its availability. There had been speculation that some matches could be relocated to the United Arab Emirates, but it now appears that all three Tests will take place in Pakistan.