Ben Stokes has fired a blunt two-word response after the International Cricket Council launched an investigation into the England and Wales Cricket Board. The governing body is looking into a potential anti-corruption breach surrounding a dressing room video of Stokes announcing his retirement to teammates at Trent Bridge.
The ECB published the emotional footage shortly before the tea interval on the fourth day of the Test against New Zealand, a match England ultimately lost.
The governing body alleges that releasing the footage with live audio during an active match violated Article 2.2.11 of the Players’ and Match Officials’ Areas protocols. These minimum standards strictly prohibit broadcasting equipment inside team dressing rooms to protect the integrity of the game. With Stokes officially stepping away, the ECB is now searching for a permanent Test captain, and Harry Brook is currently the favorite to take over.
Following his unexpected June 28 departure, Stokes quoted a media report regarding the ICC probe and posted the phrase “Sack him…” to his followers on X.
Stokes leaves behind a defining 15-year legacy that reshaped English cricket. The former captain anchored World Cup triumphs and spearheaded the aggressive Bazball era, though his career was also marked by personal challenges and a highly publicized 2018 affray trial where he was found not guilty.