Revealed: Why Ben Stokes has opted out of ICC T20 World Cup 2024

England’s Ben Stokes scored 52* in the T20 World Cup 2022 final against Pakistan.

In a huge setback for England Cricket Team ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which is to be played in the West Indies and USA in June, star all-rounder Ben Stokes has opted out of the tournament. England test captain wants to focus on making a full recovery that will allow him to return to bowling at his full strength.

Earlier, Stokes had undergone knee surgery last year in hopes of addressing a longstanding fitness concerns. However, after undergoing intense rehab sessions for about two months, the 2019 ODI World Cup winner made his return during the five-match test series against India. The veteran batter struggled to complete his role as an all-rounder during the whole series.

During the series, Stokes focused on his batting and he bowled only in the final game in Dharamsala. The England test skipper bowled just five overs and picked up the crucial wicket of Indian captain Rohit Sharma. His figures were 1/17, including one maiden in the first innings of the fifth test.

I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling: Ben Stokes

The English all-rounder said, in a statement on April 2, that he wants to work more on his fitness and full his duties as a star all-rounder for the Three Lions across all three formats.

“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.

Stokes added that opting out of the Indian Premier League 2024 and the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 will allow him to be the all-rounder he wants to see in the near future. The senior England cricketer also stated that he is looking forward to play for Durham in the County Championship ahead of English test summer.

“Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future. The recent Test tour of India highlighted how far behind I was from a bowling point of view after my knee surgery and nine months without bowling. I’m looking forward to playing for Durham in the County Championship before the start of our Test summer. I wish Jos, Motty and all the team the best of luck in defending our title,” Stokes said.

England and Wales Cricket Board confirms Ben Stokes’ decision

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also confirmed that the left-handed batter Stokes will primary focus on to get fit to bowl for the English summer which includes two crucial three-match test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

“The England Test captain’s primary focus is to get fully fit to bowl not only for the summer of Test cricket, which includes two three-match Test series’ against West Indies and Sri Lanka respectively, but for all cricket in the future,” the statement read.

The defending champions England are drawn in Group B in the T20 World Cup alongside arch-rivals Australia, Scotland, Namibia and Oman. They will begin their campaign against Scotland on June 4 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados and then will face the mighty Australia on June 8 at the very same venue.

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