PAK vs ENG: Stand-in captain Ollie Pope reveals England's strategy for Pakistan Test

England’s stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, shared his thoughts on the team's preparations for the upcoming Test match against Pakistan, which is scheduled to begin on October 7 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Pope is stepping in as captain since Ben Stokes is still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered during the Hundred League.

In a press conference held in Multan, Pope talked about how the team is getting ready for the unique weather and pitch conditions in Pakistan.

"The conditions here are different; both spin and seam bowlers will find assistance. It will be interesting to see how the pitch behaves, and our plans will depend on that," Pope said.

Pope expressed confidence in his bowling attack, especially with the return of Chris Woakes after a long absence and the pace of Brydon Carse. However, England's bowling coach, James Anderson, is not traveling with the team because he is competing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. Despite not being there in person, Anderson is sharing his experience with the bowlers through WhatsApp.

Pope also highlighted the experienced players in the squad who will fill in for those injured. He mentioned, "We have two regular spinners, so we might not need Joe Root to bowl."

He acknowledged that they would miss James Anderson, saying, "We will miss James Anderson, but the young bowlers have a great opportunity to play in these conditions." 

Despite Pakistan's recent struggles, Pope regards them as a formidable opponent. 

"Although the Pakistan team hasn't been in great form recently, they are still a challenging side," he concluded.

On the other hand, Pakistan's captain, Shan Masood, and his team are looking to bounce back after consecutive losses against England in May and Bangladesh in August. With the first Test approaching, Pope is excited about what promises to be an engaging series.