The first Test between Pakistan and England started as scheduled in Rawalpindi on Thursday morning after the visitors said they could field a fit side despite a virus scare.

The start of the series – England’s first in Pakistan since 2005 – was thrown into doubt Wednesday after several members of the touring squad, including captain Ben Stokes, fell ill.

An ECB spokesman said on Wednesday the virus was not Covid-19 related, with players experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea.

Pakistan have handed first Test caps to pacers Haris Rauf and Mohammad Ali, spinner Zahid Mahmood, and batsman Saud Shakeel.

Liam Livingstone and Will Jacks, both batsmen, make their England debuts.

The remaining two Tests are in Multan (9-13 December) and Karachi (17-21 December).

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Ali, Haris Rauf, Saud Shakeel, Zahid Mahmood, Naseem Shah.

England: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson.

© Agence France-Presse