Ben Stokes has issued a two-word response after the International Cricket Council (ICC) contacted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over an alleged breach of anti-corruption regulations. The 35-year-old all-rounder, who retired from international cricket last month, posted 'Sack him' on X following news of the ICC's inquiry.
Retirement Announcement Sparks Controversy
Stokes confirmed his retirement from England duty midway through the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. The ECB shared a video on social media at approximately 3.25pm on day four of the Test, while Stokes was in the middle of a bowling spell. He took a wicket with his very next delivery after the announcement, but England fell to a 160-run defeat and a 2-1 series loss the following day.
Alleged Breach of Anti-Corruption Rules
The BBC reported that the ICC informed the ECB that footage taken from within the England dressing room constitutes a breach of rules relating to the standards of players and match officials' areas (PMOA). The alleged rule breach relates to Article 2.2.11 of the PMOA standards, which states that all federations should: 'Ensure that there are no fixed or temporary video cameras or other recording equipment set up within any dressing room used by the teams for the purposes of broadcasting video or audio footage.' The ICC sent a letter to the ECB stipulating that the violation concerns the release of footage filmed inside the dressing room before the Test concluded.
Stokes Explains Retirement Decision
After the Test, Stokes explained his decision to step away from international cricket. 'I've been through some rocky times, personally, having to feel like I'm pushing myself through and feel like I'm having to do something because it's the right thing to do,' he told Sky Sports. 'To be honest, it might sound quite selfish, but this decision is generally the best thing for me right now. Whether that means it's the best thing for the team going forward, I hope so.' He added, 'It comes down to what I think is going to allow me to still love this game that I've played since I was a kid and has given me a career. I'm very excited about the next part of what I get to do - going back and playing for my boyhood club Durham.'
