England captain Ben Stokes to miss first test against Pakistan

The opener of the three-test series begins Monday in Multan, where Ollie Pope will take charge of his first overseas test.

Stokes had hoped to be ready after rehabbing from the injury he sustained in August.

“I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this first game but I’ve taken the call to miss this one. I’ve not quite managed to get game ready,” Stokes said Saturday. "I’ve got a good 10 days to get myself ready for the second.”

The all-rounder was optimistic for the second test but on the prospects of bowling said “it’s too far away to say.”

Pope captained England to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka last month.