ENGLAND could be without Ben Stokes for next week’s opening Test in Pakistan, with Zak Crawley admitting the tourists do not know if the captain will be fit for duty.

Stokes tore his hamstring in August while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred and sat out the three-match series against Sri Lanka, leaving Ollie Pope to take over as skipper.

He had been hoping to make his comeback in Monday’s series opener in Multan but has yet to be given the green light.

Stokes was on hand for England’s first practice session but bowled just a handful of gentle deliveries off a couple of strides and looked uncomfortable at times during his batting stint.

Asked if he would be ready to reclaim the reins, Crawley said: “I think he’s got to do a few more tests, but he’s been doing some running and stuff.

“He seems to be going well, recovering well from his injury, (but) we don’t know just yet. We feel ready, whatever team comes out it will be a nice balance either way.

“We’ve got a really deep squad with plenty of options with the ball and with the bat as well.”

Should Stokes be confined to the balcony, where he watched all three of the games against Sri Lanka in an observing capacity, it could spare England a tricky team selection.

Were he to play as a specialist batter, as he has done before when carrying niggles, England would surely want a fifth bowling option and may be forced to cut one of the top six.

Crawley, though, has been cleared for action after his own lay-off with a broken finger.

He will take a temporary sabbatical from the slips, where he suffered the fracture against the West Indies at Edgbaston, but is otherwise fighting fit and has been netting for just over a fortnight.

“I feel brand new. I’m looking forward to getting out there,” he said.