England Test captain Ben Stokes and former England all-rounder moeen ali are set to join the England Lions coaching staff ahead of their upcoming white-ball series against the Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi next month. The coaching group will be led by former England international Andrew Flintoff, as part of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) renewed push to strengthen England’s future talent pathway.

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ECB’s renewed focus on modern limited-overs cricket

The inclusion of moeen ali and Ben Stokes comes as the ECB sharpens its strategy to adapt to modern cricket, where limited-overs formats continue to grow in popularity. The upcoming series will give England Lions valuable exposure to white-ball cricket, aligning with the board’s long-term vision to prepare players for international demands.

England Lions to play limited-overs cricket after three years

The limited-overs tour of Abu Dhabi marks a significant moment for the England Lions. This will be their first white-ball series in the last three years. The T20 matches will be the Lions’ first since late 2018, while their last 50-over game was played during the tour of Sri Lanka in early 2023.

Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes join Flintoff-led setup

For the upcoming tour, moeen ali will join the coaching team alongside Ben Stokes. Stokes, England’s Test captain, will continue his recovery process with the Lions after suffering a groin injury while bowling in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney earlier this month.

Stokes previously worked with Flintoff in a mentor role at Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, making this his second stint alongside the former England all-rounder in a coaching capacity.

Moeen Ali’s transition from player to coach

On the other hand, moeen ali, who had earlier retired from professional cricket, has reversed his decision to join Yorkshire for the T20 Blast. He will continue with the England Lions as he transitions from a playing career into coaching. Ali has expressed a clear desire to remain involved in the game beyond his playing days.

Along with Flintoff, Stokes, and moeen ali, the coaching staff will include Neil McKenzie, Sarah Taylor, Neil Killeen, Amar Rashid, and Troy Cooley.

England Lions squads for Pakistan Shaheens series

The ECB has confirmed the full squads for both the T20 and 50-over series in Abu Dhabi.

T20 squad:
Sonny Baker, Luc Benkenstein, James Coles, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox (capt), Scott Currie, Calvin Harrison, Eddie Jack, Saqib Mahmood, Ben McKinney, Tom Moores, Dan Mousley, Matt Revis, Will Smeed, Nathan Sowter, Mitchell Stanley, Asa Tribe.

50-over squad:
Sonny Baker, Luc Benkenstein, James Coles, Sam Cook, Scott Currie, Calvin Harrison, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley (capt), Liam Patterson-White, Matthew Potts, Matt Revis, James Rew, Mitchell Stanley, Asa Tribe, James Wharton.

Full fixtures: England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheens

3-match T20I series:
1st T20I – February 20
2nd T20I – February 22
3rd T20I – February 24

5-match ODI series:
1st ODI – February 27
2nd ODI – March 1
3rd ODI – March 4
4th ODI – March 6
5th ODI – March 9

All matches will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

With Ben Stokes and moeen ali joining Andrew Flintoff’s coaching group, the England Lions’ tour of Abu Dhabi represents a key step in the ECB’s renewed white-ball strategy. For moeen ali, the series also marks another move forward in his transition from player to coach, as England look to build depth and experience for the future.