ICC World Cup 2023: Tim Paine Criticizes Ben Stokes For His ODI Return, Says "It Was A Bit Of Me, Me, Me"

Former Aussie skipper Tim Paine has questioned England’s Test skipper Ben Stokes’ return to ODI cricket ahead of the World Cup 2023.

Stokes overturned his retirement before the forthcoming World Cup, which is going to be held in India in the month of October and November. The English selectors wasted no time to include the 32-year-old in the squad.

While speaking to SEN Tassie, Tim Paine said that he finds Ben Stokes overturning his retirement interesting and termed it as a selfish act since Stokes wanted to choose what position he wanted to bat.

“Ben Stokes coming out of one day retirement, I found that interesting. It was a bit of, ‘Me, me, me’, there isn’t it? It was, ‘I’ll pick and I’ll choose where I want to play and when I want to play’, and, ‘I’ll play in the big tournaments’. The guys who played for 12 months, ‘Sorry, thanks. But can you go and sit on the bench because I want to play now?’,” Time Paine said on Ben Stokes.

Harry Brook or Ben Stokes? As a bat: Tim Paine

The 38-year-old Australian said that India and England are favorites to win the ODI World Cup, however, if the Aussies manage to show some aggression they can also get hold of the most prestigious trophy.

“I don’t know, he’s not bowling. Harry Brook or Ben Stokes? As a bat. It would be very close, very, very close. Probably (England are now favorites), them, and India. I think the Aussies if they can get hot (they can also win),” Tim Paine added.

England, the defending champions, will be giving their all to get hold of the trophy again. They will be starting their campaign against New Zealand on October 5th at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. They will lock horns against Australia on November 4th at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.

On the other hand, Australia will be starting their journey on October 8th against India at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

This ODI World Cup, even though India will get an upper hand on the tournament since they will be playing in front their home crowd but the pressure will be on Rohit Sharma since the Men in Blue haven’t won an ICC event for past 10 years.