England’s opening batter Zak Crawley and left-arm spinner Jack Leach are expected to make a return for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.
The series is set to take place from October 7 to 24, with matches scheduled in Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
Jack Leach, who has been sidelined from the England Test squad since 2018, is eyeing a much-anticipated comeback, bolstered by his impressive performances in the County Championship. Despite being a key player under Ben Stokes’ leadership, a string of injuries kept Leach out of international cricket.
Leach acknowledged the competition from the young and promising spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has already made a mark in his early Test career with three five-wicket hauls in just eight matches. However, Leach remains optimistic that England might include both spinners for the Pakistan tour.
“I fully understand why Bash has been selected,” Leach said. “He’s a very talented bowler with a bright future. We’ve worked together, and I’m proud of him.
But with the Pakistan tour coming up, I’m ready if England needs me. I feel like I’m getting back to my best after dealing with injuries, and it would be great if both Shoaib and I could be part of the squad.”
Meanwhile, Zak Crawley, who has been out of action since the final Test of the series against West Indies due to a fractured finger, is racing against time to recover. The typical recovery period for such an injury is six to eight weeks, leaving Crawley just enough time to be fit for the Pakistan series, which was nine weeks away when he sustained the injury.
Both players are hopeful of making their mark as England prepares for what promises to be a challenging tour of Pakistan.
