England Test captain Ben Stokes and all-rounder Moeen Ali will join the England Lions coaching staff for their upcoming series against the Pakistan Shaheens in the United Arab Emirates next month.
Stokes is currently recovering from an adductor injury sustained during the fifth Test against Australia earlier this month, while Moeen will take on his first coaching role with the Lions.
Both Moeen and Stokes, who will continue his injury rehabilitation in the UAE, are set to assist head coach Andrew Flintoff during a three-match T20 series and five 50-over games against Pakistan’s second-string team.
Moeen Ali, who played 298 matches for England before retiring from international cricket in 2024, announced Monday that he would cancel plans to retire from domestic cricket and has signed with Yorkshire. He will join England Lions coaching staff alongside head coach Andrew Flintoff for their upcoming series against Pakistan Shaheens in the UAE. The coaching party also includes elite pace bowling lead Troy Cooley, who rejoined the England set-up last week, former South Africa batter Neil McKenzie, ex-England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor, former Durham seamer Neil Killeen and Amar Rashid, brother of England spinner Adil.
Jordan Cox and Dan Mousley will captain the T20 and 50-over squads respectively, joined by full internationals Saqib Mahmood in T20s and Matthew Potts in the 50-over games. Essex seamer Sam Cook features in both squads, alongside James Rew, Asa Tribe, James Coles and Scott Currie. The tour begins with the first T20 match on 21 February.
Read More: Australia to play three T20Is in Lahore ahead of T20 World Cup
ECB men’s performance director Ed Barney said the selection “brings a real blend of proven performers and exciting talent” ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s World Cup, while Rashid will return to SACA after his Lions coaching stint.
Lions T20 squad: Jordan Cox (Essex, capt), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Luc Benkenstein (Essex), James Coles (Sussex), Sam Cook (Essex), Scott Currie (Hampshire), Calvin Harrison (Northamptonshire), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Ben McKinney (Durham), Tom Moores (Nottinghamshire), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Matt Revis (Yorkshire), Will Smeed (Somerset), Nathan Sowter (Durham), Mitchell Stanley (Lancashire), Asa Tribe (Glamorgan)
Lions 50-over squad: Dan Mousley (Warwickshire, capt), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Luc Benkenstein (Essex), Sam Cook (Essex), James Coles (Sussex), Scott Currie (Hampshire), Calvin Harrison (Northamptonshire), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Ben McKinney (Durham), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Potts (Durham), Matt Revis (Yorkshire), James Rew (Somerset), Mitchell Stanley (Lancashire), Asa Tribe (Glamorgan), James Wharton (Yorkshire)
With inputs from BBC