England captain Ben Stokes will miss the opening test against Pakistan in Multan to continue his recovery from a hamstring injury, the 33-year-old said on Saturday.

Ollie Pope will captain England in place of Ben Stokes for the first Test against Pakistan armed with a pace attack that includes debutant Brydon Carse.

England captain Ben Stokes said Saturday he will miss the first Test against Pakistan starting next week, after failing to recover from a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old Stokes has been out since the start of August with a hamstring tear suffered during The Hundred,

The first test match between Pakistan and England will begin at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday. English cricket team is in Pakistan to play the three-match test series.

Live ball-by-ball commentary of Pakistan v England on the 2nd day of the 1st test.

Pakistan play England in a three-Test series starting Monday in Multan with the visitors favourites to inflict more damage on a team mired in a painful losing streak.