New captain named as Ben Stokes ruled out of first Test against Pakistan

England's Test captain Ben Stokes has been officially ruled out of the opening Test in the three-match series against Pakistan, set to begin on October 7 in Multan. Stokes is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained back in August, which has kept him sidelined since then.

The 33-year-old all-rounder missed the recent 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka, with vice-captain Ollie Pope stepping in to lead the team during his absence. Reports from the BBC confirm that Pope will captain England once again as they face a Pakistan side that has struggled for form in recent matches.

Stokes has traveled with the squad and participated in training, but concerns regarding his fitness have emerged. Despite some optimism about his potential return, it became clear that he had not achieved full match fitness, leading to the decision to rest him for the first Test. Just last week, Stokes indicated he might not be able to bowl at the start of the series, further casting doubt on his readiness.

The hamstring injury, which Stokes suffered on August 11 while playing in The Hundred for the Northern Superchargers, ruled him out for the remainder of the English summer. His absence is a significant setback for England, as Stokes' leadership and experience have been crucial to the team's recent successes, particularly under the guidance of head coach Brendon McCullum.

With Stokes sidelined, Ollie Pope will have the opportunity to manage a relatively familiar lineup. England is expected to feature a top order similar to that used against Sri Lanka, with Ben Duckett, Pope, and Zak Crawley expected to spearhead the batting. The middle order will rely on in-form players such as Harry Brook, Joe Root, and Jamie Smith to combat Pakistan's pace attack.

Pakistan, England Test series schedule:

• 7-11 Oct – First Test, Multan
• 15-19 Oct – Second Test, Multan
• 24-28 Oct – Third Test, Rawalpindi