England's Ben Stokes Returns for Second Test Against Pakistan with Team Changes

England's cricket team has announced its lineup for the upcoming second Test match against Pakistan, with a notable return and a couple of changes to the roster. Captain Ben Stokes, who had been sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained in August, has been confirmed as part of the team for the match in Multan. His inclusion marks a significant boost for the team, as he was a key player in their previous series.

In addition to Stokes' return, seamer Matt Potts has been brought back into the fold, resulting in the omission of Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes from the team that secured a remarkable victory in the first Test of the series, also held in Multan. The second Test is set to commence on Tuesday.

Stokes' injury had forced him to miss the entire series against Sri Lanka, which England won 2-1. Prior to his injury, he had participated in all three Tests against the West Indies in July, contributing to the team's 3-0 series win. Potts, who last represented England in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, has also been part of the recent ODI series against Australia.

The updated England squad for the second Test against Pakistan in Multan is as follows: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir.

This announcement comes amidst a flurry of cricketing news, with other significant developments in the sport also making headlines. The return of Ben Stokes and the changes in the England team are sure to add an extra dimension to the already anticipated second Test match against Pakistan.