Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali Join England Lions Coaching Staff for Pakistan Shaheens Series in UAE

In a significant development for English cricket's pathway programme, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali have been announced as part of the England Lions coaching staff for the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan Shaheens in the United Arab Emirates next month.

The tour marks a new chapter for both cricketers, who have collectively represented England in an impressive 575 international matches between them.

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Stokes Continues Rehabilitation While Coaching

England's Test captain Ben Stokes will combine his coaching duties with ongoing rehabilitation from an adductor injury sustained during the fifth Test against Australia earlier this month. The UAE setting provides an ideal environment for Stokes to continue his recovery while contributing his vast experience to the next generation of English talent.

For Moeen Ali, this represents his first official coaching role with the Lions set-up. The all-rounder, who amassed 298 international appearances before retiring from England duty in 2024, recently made headlines by cancelling his planned retirement from domestic cricket and signing for Yorkshire.

Andrew Flintoff Leads Star-Studded Coaching Team

Head coach Andrew Flintoff will be assisted by an experienced backroom staff that reads like a who's who of cricket expertise:

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• Troy Cooley - Elite national pace bowling lead, who recently rejoined the England set-up
• Neil McKenzie - Former South Africa batter
• Sarah Taylor - Former England wicketkeeper
• Neil Killeen - Former Durham seamer
• Amar Rashid - Brother of England spinner Adil Rashid, with previous experience coaching England pathway cricketers

Amar Rashid's Rising Coaching Reputation

Rashid's inclusion highlights the growing influence of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA), which has produced numerous players for county sides. SACA founder Tom Brown expressed his pride at the recognition:

"We've seen just what Amar is capable of as a coach and it comes as little surprise to us that his skills have been recognised by those running the Lions set up. At SACA we are enormously proud of the opportunities we have created in the professional game for not only our South Asian players, but for our coaches too."

Squad Composition and Leadership

Jordan Cox (Essex) will captain the T20 squad, while Dan Mousley (Warwickshire) takes charge of the 50-over side. This represents the Lions' first away white-ball series since touring Sri Lanka in 2022.

Full Internationals in the Mix

The squads feature several players with senior England experience:

• Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire) - Named in the T20 squad
• Matthew Potts (Durham) - Selected for 50-over matches
• Sam Cook (Essex) - The seamer who won his sole Test cap against Zimbabwe last summer features in both squads after missing the Lions touring party that shadowed the Ashes squad

Emerging Talent to Watch

The selection includes several highly-regarded young prospects:

• James Rew (Somerset) - A player generating significant excitement
• Asa Tribe (Glamorgan)
• James Coles (Sussex)
• Scott Currie (Hampshire) - Selected after being ruled out of Scotland's T20 World Cup squad

Building Towards the 2027 World Cup

ECB men's performance director Ed Barney emphasised the strategic importance of this tour:

"It's exciting to have such a strong England Lions squad selected. This group brings a real blend of proven performers, exciting talent who have performed over the winter and retains an eye on future best. With limited 50-over cricket on offer, this series combined with tours over the remainder of 2026 will give players the opportunity to develop and deliver as we build towards the 2027 ICC Men's World Cup in South Africa."

Tour Schedule and Format

The series comprises:

• Three T20 matches
• Five 50-over matches

The tour begins with the first T20 on 21 February, with coaching staff attending either all or part of the tour depending on their commitments.

Full Squad Lists

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)

Looking Ahead

This tour represents a crucial step in England's white-ball development strategy ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. With experienced coaches like Stokes and Moeen Ali providing guidance, alongside the technical expertise of Troy Cooley and the broader coaching team, the Lions have an exceptional opportunity to accelerate their development in competitive conditions against quality opposition.

The presence of proven internationals alongside emerging talent creates an ideal mentorship environment, while the limited 50-over cricket available domestically makes these fixtures particularly valuable for player development.