‘Sack him’ – Ben Stokes reacts after ICC questions ECB over protocol breach by timing of former captain’s retirement video release

Ben Stokes shocked the cricket fraternity last month when he abruptly retired from international cricket following the third Test against New Zealand.

The legendary all-rounder revealed his decision to bid farewell to international cricket during an interaction with his players ahead of Day 4 of the third Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. ECB released the video of Stokes’ retirement speech when the 35-year-old was in the middle of a bowling spell just before the Tea break.

However, as reported by the BBC, this has resulted in the ECB being contacted in writing by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which alleges that publishing the footage during play contravenes its standards for players’ and match officials’ areas (PMOA) at international matches.

Article 2.2.11 of the PMOA minimum standards states that governing bodies 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”.

According to the report mentioned earlier, the ICC had previously informed the ECB that footage shot in the PMOA must be muted or released before the end of a game.

“The global governing body had also previously informed the ECB any footage shot in the PMOA must not carry audio or be released before the conclusion of a match,” the report stated.

Stokes had later revealed that he had left it to his management team, former England players Neil Fairbrother and Michael Lumb, to discuss with the ECB how his retirement decision could be shared with the public. In an interesting turn of events, Stokes picked up a wicket seconds after his decision to retire was revealed.

On Thursday, July 9, Stokes reacted to news of the ICC questioning the ECB over a potential protocol breach by taking to social media and writing: “Sack him.”

While England lost the Test series against New Zealand 1-2, it doesn’t take anything away from Stokes’ glorious career, where he played 122 Tests, 114 ODIs, and 43 T20Is, amassing well over 11,000 runs and picking up 352 wickets.