Ben Stokes Opts Out of England Squad for Twenty20 World Cup

England cricket all-rounder Ben Stokes has made the decision to withdraw from selection for this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, as announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Stokes aims to prioritize his fitness and focus on regaining his bowling prowess ahead of the upcoming test fixtures in the summer. The defending champions of the T20 World Cup, England, will miss the services of Stokes, whose primary objective is to fully recover for the forthcoming Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Stokes, who last represented England in a T20 international during the World Cup final in November 2022, expressed his determination to rebuild his bowling fitness to fulfill his role as an all-rounder across all formats of cricket. He emphasized the significance of his decision to opt out of both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the World Cup, hoping it will pave the way for his long-term capabilities as an all-rounder. Having undergone knee surgery in November, Stokes faced challenges in bowling consistently during England’s recent Test series against India, highlighting the necessity for further recovery and preparation.

Acknowledging the setback caused by his knee surgery and subsequent absence from bowling for nine months, Stokes is eager to return to action for Durham in the County Championship before the commencement of England’s Test summer. With preparations underway for the Twenty20 World Cup, England will engage in a four-match T20 series against Pakistan. Despite Stokes’ absence, England aims to perform strongly in the tournament, which will take place in the West Indies and the United States, with matches against Scotland, Australia, Oman, and Namibia scheduled in the group stage.