Stokes to Skip T20 World Cup

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has decided to withdraw himself from the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled to be jointly hosted by the Caribbean and the United States. He has informed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of his decision not to be part of the squad for the upcoming tournament.

Stokes had a significant impact in the 2022 T20 World Cup, particularly in the final against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where he played a crucial role with both bat and ball. However, he has decided not to participate in the upcoming edition of the tournament, citing personal reasons.

In recent times, Stokes has been focusing on his fitness, especially his bowling, to ensure he can perform at his best as an all-rounder in the future. He mentioned that he is working hard to regain his bowling fitness so that he can contribute effectively in all aspects of the game.

Stokes expressed his disappointment at falling behind in terms of bowling fitness after his knee injury and being away from bowling for nine months. He is now aiming to focus on playing in the County Championship for Durham before the start of the Test summer.

In Stokes' absence, Liam Livingstone is being considered for the number four position in the England squad.