Ben Stokes during ENG vs NZ Trent Bridge Test | PC- AFP
Ben Stokes has been headlining for the last month for all the wrong reasons. Reportedly, the Jay Shah-led ICC contracted the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as they broke the norms by posting the all-rounder's retirement video amid the Trent Bridge Test match vs New Zealand.
After the Lord's win against New Zealand, the former England skipper was involved in a nightclub altercation, and the ECB took action against the players involved, dropping them from the squad for the second Test.
The all-rounder returned for the third and final Test match at Trent Bridge, but during the game, he announced his retirement through a social media video posted by the ECB before the tea interval on Day 4.
ICC accusses ECB for breaking PMOA protocols
Reported by BBC Sports, the ICC has contacted the English board for breaking the apex body's norms by posting the Ben Stokes retirement video amidst the Test match. While doing so, the ECB has allegedly broken the players' and match officials' areas (PMOA) protocol.
Also Read: ICC Snaps England Cricket For Ben Stokes’ Retirement, Corruption Busted
Watch Ben Stokes' Retirement Video Here
Article 2.2.11 of the PMOA minimum standards states national cricket 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," as quoted by the BBC.
Ben Stokes takes an indirect dig at Jay Shah's ICC
After the BBC report was picked up, another top English publication, The Telegraph, reported the same. However, Ben Stokes got triggered by it, as the prolific all-rounder sarcastically replied to their news piece and took a subtle dig at the Jay Shah-led ICC.
Taking to his X handle, the former England cricketer reshared The Telegraph's post and said "Sack Him (Stokes)", after the publication shared that the ECB is "accused of breaching the ICC's anti-corruption rules".
Ben Stokes: A controversial figure yet brave as a cricketer
Representing England in 122 Tests, 114 ODIs and 43 T20Is, Ben Stokes has been one of the most controversial yet brave characters of his generation. The all-rounder was nicknamed “The Miracle Man” after seeing England through from unthinkable situations.
From the incredible Headingley knock to his performances in the 2019 & 2022 ICC title wins, the legend of Stokes has to be one of the greatest in England cricket.
He remained unmatched as a cricketer, but he is equally a talked-about figure for his off-field sagas. Apart from the London nightclub altercation, he had got into a brawl outside a pub in Bristol back in 2019, for which he had to face legal trials. There is a long list of controversies related to the all-rounder, but about that later.
As Stokes has called it quits from international cricket, England are in desperate need of a Test captain, with the white-ball captain Harry Brook looking as the sole front-runner at the moment. However, their next Test assignment is against Pakistan, a three-match series starting next month.
Also Read: Shresta Iyer Drags Kohli, Tendulkar, Gill To Defend Shreyas Iyer Amid Captaincy Slump
