England players warm up for Test series opener by playing golf and tennis in Multan

England cricketers, who are in Pakistan for a three-Test series, played golf and lawn tennis during their first two-day stay at picturesque Rumanza golf club located the DHA locality in Multan.

Rumanza offers all the required facilities which touring teams like England are quite fond of. The lush green golf course, counted among the best in the region, is one of the major sources of enjoyment for any touring party.

English cricketers including skipper Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and others played golf and tennis during the past two days, a source from Multan told Nukta.

“Rumanza is an ideal place for English cricketers. They are very happy staying there. On their arrival they were extended top protocol,” the source said.

Pakistan cricket team is also staying at the same facility which is at around 50-minute drive from the Multan Cricket Stadium. Both nations will play two Tests at the venue with the opener to begin from October 7. The third Test will be held in Rawalpindi from October 24-28.

Stokes doubtful for opening Test

On Friday, England team trained hard for two hours at the Multan Cricket Stadium, their first training session, since they arrived in the city on October 2.

Meanwhile, Stokes is doubtful for the opening Test, despite batting and briefly bowling in the training session.

Zak Crawley, fit after missing the Sri Lanka series, expressed confidence in England's squad incase Stokes is deemed unfit.

"We've got a really deep squad, with plenty of options with the ball and with the bat as well," Crawley said in a press conference on Friday. "We feel ready. Whatever team comes out, it will be a nice balance either way."

Crawley suggested that England will take a late call on whether Stokes will take part in the opening Test.

"He seems to be going well, recovering well from his injury," he said. "We don't know just yet. I think he's got to do a few more tests, but he's been doing some running and stuff."

No impact of PTI’s rally

According to sources from Multan, there is no such stir in Multan and no such issue within the traveling zone of both the teams was seen.

“It’s calm here at least around Multan Cricket Stadium and the entire traveling zone of the teams from hotel to the venue,” the source said.

“Both teams practiced at the Multan Stadium today and everything went well,” the source said.

The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is holding a rally in Islamabad’s D Chowk today. According to reports large of number of supporters have reached the federal capital from across the country despite the closure of motorway.

Things are uncertain in various parts of Punjab and KPK but thankfully Multan, situated in southern Punjab, is relatively unaffected.

Meanwhile, the England team will be led by Ben Stokes in the series. As many as eight players from the squad including Rehan Ahmed, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Ben Stokes have returned to Pakistan following their 3-0 win in their previous Test series in 2022.