Ben Stokes remains a major uncertainty for England's first Test against Pakistan, scheduled to begin on October 7 in Multan. The 33-year-old captain has been recovering from a hamstring injury sustained while playing in The Hundred back in August, which ruled him out of England's recent 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka.

During the team's training session in Multan, Stokes was seen participating in light batting drills and bowling a few gentle deliveries. However, he appeared to struggle at times, raising concerns about his readiness to take on the demands of Test cricket.

Zak Crawley, England's opener, noted that Stokes is progressing well but emphasized that a final decision on his fitness has yet to be made. If Stokes is unable to play, England may adjust their team dynamics. They could either utilize him as a specialist batter—if he can’t bowl—or select a more balanced team of four bowlers, relying on Joe Root's off-spin capabilities. This scenario would avoid having to drop a key player from the batting lineup, which includes wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Crawley, who is back in action after recovering from a broken finger, expressed confidence in England's squad depth, stating, "We’ve got a really deep squad, with plenty of options with the ball and with the bat".

The team is gearing up for challenging conditions, with high temperatures expected in Multan, making the selection of a balanced side crucial​.