England Test squad for Pakistan tour sees Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley make a comeback as Dan Lawrence gets dropped

Captain Ben Stokes is set to make his highly-anticipated return to the England Test squad after being sidelined for the recent series against Sri Lanka. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed his inclusion in the 17-member squad for the upcoming tour of Pakistan in October.

Stokes, who sustained a hamstring tear in English domestic tournament The Hundred last month, is continuing his recovery along with Zak Crawley who fractured his right little finger at Edgbaston in July.

England will tour Pakistan for a three-match series starting from Oct. 7.

"Zak Crawley returns to the squad after missing out since the West Indies series in July. Captain Ben Stokes is also included as he continues his recovery from a hamstring tear," ECB said in a statement.

Spinner Rehan Ahmed, who made his red-ball debut in Karachi during the last Pakistan tour in December 2022, returns to the squad with counterpart Jack Leach who will feature for the first time since the opening test in India in January this year.

The 20-year-old Josh Hull, who made his Test debut in the third test against Sri Lanka on Friday, is also included in the squad along with the uncapped duo of Brydon Carse and batter Jordan Cox.

England have added eight players from the 2022 squad - Rehan, Harry Brook, Crawley, Ben Duckett, Leach, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Stokes - who had won the last test series 3-0 against Pakistan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to announce the venues for the series later this week.

Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.