Ben Stokes: “That’s Pakistan’s cricket issue. Nothing to do with me”

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England captain Ben Stokes said he had nothing to with Pakistan removing Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah from their squad midway through the three-Test series.

Stokes was asked what he thought about the decision, but opted not to give his opinion on it as he simply stated “that’s Pakistan’s cricket issue”.

The move to release the trio from the team came after Pakistan lost the first Test in Multan by an innings and 47 runs.

“That’s Pakistan’s cricket issue. Nothing to do with me,” Stokes was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

Despite not having Azam, Afridi or Naseem for the second and third Tests, Pakistan went on to beat England 2-1 and claim their first Test series win on home soil since 2021.

Next up for Pakistan will be a white-ball tour of Australia, which will consist of three ODIs and three T20Is that will be held from November 4 to 18.

After that, the men in green will head to Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is from November 24 to December 5.

Pakistan Squad for Australia ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan Squad for Australia T20I Series: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan

Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir

Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan

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