Defending champions England will go into the match with out the all-rounder as he works to regain his bowling health.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has opted out of choice for this 12 months’s Twenty20 World Cup, the nation’s cricket board (ECB) mentioned in an announcement.
“I’m working onerous and specializing in constructing my bowling health again as much as fulfil a full function as an all-rounder in all codecs of cricket,” Stokes, England’s Take a look at captain, mentioned in ECB’s assertion on Tuesday.
“Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that permits me to be the all-rounder I need to be for the foreseeable future.”
England are the defending T20 World Cup champions, having claimed their second title in 2022 in Australia.
The ECB added that Stokes’s main focus “is to get absolutely match to bowl” for the upcoming Take a look at collection towards West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Stokes final performed a T20 worldwide for England within the World Cup closing in November 2022.
In November final 12 months, he underwent surgical procedure for a knee difficulty which hampered his capability to bowl often.
The 32-year-old bowled simply 5 overs throughout England’s 4-1 collection defeat to India final month.
“The current Take a look at tour of India highlighted how far behind I used to be from a bowling perspective after my knee surgical procedure and 9 months with out bowling,” Stokes mentioned.
“I’m wanting ahead to taking part in for Durham within the County Championship earlier than the beginning of our Take a look at summer season.”
T20 World Cup ❌
Ben Stokes will play no half on this summer season’s match 🏆
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 2, 2024
England will play a four-match T20 collection towards Pakistan in preparation for the World Cup, which will likely be held within the West Indies and america in June.
They then play group matches towards Scotland, Australia, Oman and Namibia earlier than the Tremendous 8s and knockout levels.