Ben Stokes has made the decision to withdraw from the T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place later this year in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). In a statement released on April 2, the seasoned all-rounder expressed his intention to prioritize his fitness and focus on his role as a key player for the British team across all cricket formats.
BEN STOKES OPTED OUT OF THE 2024 T20 WORLD CUP TO PRIORITISE TEST CRICKET…!!!! pic.twitter.com/CEAgiyFCW9
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 2, 2024
During the recent Test series against India, Stokes encountered challenges fulfilling his responsibilities as an all-rounder. While leading the visiting team, he mainly concentrated on his batting and only bowled in the final Test match, where he notably claimed the crucial wicket of India’s captain Rohit Sharma with his very first delivery. England felt the absence of Stokes’s bowling prowess as they faced a 4-1 defeat in the series, despite starting with a victory in the opener after a comeback effort.
“I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling fitness back up to fulfill a full role as an all-rounder in all formats of cricket,” Stokes said in a statement.
Ben Stokes, who notably chose not to participate in the IPL 2024 season, which commenced on April 22, had previously been part of the Chennai franchise, having been acquired for Rs 16.25 crore. However, his involvement in the 2023 season was limited to just two matches. Prior to the IPL 2024 auction in December, Stokes made the decision to withdraw from the tournament, leading to his release from the Super Kings team.
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