Pakistan v England: Tourists wait to learn if series starts on Thursday

England are waiting to find out if the Test series against Pakistan will start on time.

Half of the touring party was struck by illness and the first Test could be delayed.

The last time England played in Pakistan was 17 years ago, when they stopped their tours after a gun attack on the Sri Lankan team.

There will be a decision on the first day of play on Thursday.

The first day of the match is expected to be decided no later than 2 hours before the start of the game.

The Pakistan Cricket Board and the England and Wales Cricket Board held talks after a number of players and staff from the touring party were struck with a virus.

The first Test can either be delayed by a day or play a four-day Test.

If the first Test is delayed, there will be only two days left before the start of the second Test in Multan.

If England are not able to field a competitive team on the first day, the match will not start.

Last-minute hitch to historic tour

The last time England was in Pakistan, they lost 2-0. 18 of the 24 contests between the two sides in this country have ended in draws.

In the time when England haven't toured, Pakistan has hosted them twice in the U.A.

Pakistan didn't play international cricket for six years after the attack on the Sri Lanka team.

In 2015, Zimbabwe were the first team to return for a white-ball series, followed by Sri Lanka in 2019.

As a host of English players took part in the Pakistan Super League, the way was paved for England to tour, but a limited-overs series was called off in 2021 after the New Zealand team received a "specific and credible threat" while in Pakistan.

England played a T20 series in September and October of this year.

They have been given a 'presidential' level of security, meaning an armed convoy through closed roads when travelling.

The series takes place against the backdrop of mass flooding that has devastated huge parts of Pakistan, and the captain of England has pledged his match fees from the tour to the flood appeal charity.

"Coming here is a monumental time for English cricket and for Pakistan as a nation," said one of the players struck down by illness.

I felt compelled to give something bigger than cricket because there are things in life that are bigger than sports.

A group of England fans are in Pakistan. The tickets for the cricket stadium are thought to have been sold in advance. The weekend is expected to have a bigger crowd.

The two teams that played in the T20 World Cup final in Australia are back together.

Pakistan are currently fifth in the table and are trying to get into the World Test Championship final. The English are out of contention.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said they were excited about the chance to play the final. We have a chance to achieve that in this series.

It is the first overseas tour for the English. Six wins from seven Tests in the summer will be examined.

In the summer, the most important thing to remember is to show intent.

The narrative of how Test cricket needs to be played is something we don't want to be held back by. We're in an era with English cricket, with myself and Brendan leading the red-ball cricket about how we want to go out and play.

Ben Duckett was recalled for the first time in six years after being named in England's XI.