England Announces Squad for Pakistan Test Series with Cook and Pope Included

England has selected a 16-member squad for the first two Tests of the three-match series against Pakistan, set to begin on August 19. This series is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

The squad features the return of Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, and Sam Cook, while Jordan Cox is also included after Jacob Bethell was ruled out due to injury. This marks the beginning of a new phase for England following the retirement of Ben Stokes and the departure of head coach Brendon McCullum.

Joe Root, who was reappointed as Test captain in July, will lead the team for the first time since his return. The squad includes Shoaib Bashir as the main spin option, and Lawrence's inclusion is attributed to his performance as the leading run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship. The final XI will be determined before the first Test.