The England cricket team has announced its Playing XI for the first Test match against Pakistan, scheduled to begin on October 7 at Multan Cricket Stadium. Regular captain Ben Stokes will miss the match due to a hamstring injury, with Ollie Pope stepping in as the stand-in captain.

A key highlight is the inclusion of Durham seamer Brydon Carse, who is set to make his Test debut, adding fresh energy to the bowling lineup. Jack Leach also returns to the Test arena for the first time since January, while Zak Crawley is back after recovering from a broken finger.

The England squad will face Pakistan, led by Shan Masood, in what promises to be an exciting series.

England Playing XI for First Test Against Pakistan:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse (Debut), Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir.

Match Schedule:

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

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