Ben Stokes To Miss Remainder Of Pakistan Series Due To Family Reasons
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England allrounder Ben Stokes will miss the remainder of the ongoing Test series against Pakistan for family reasons, the ECB confirmed on Sunday (August 9). England currently lead the three-match series after winning the first Test by three wickets in Manchester.
Ben Stokes will leave UK for New Zealand. The England star was born in the country, where his parents Ged and Deb still live. He has played all four Tests so far this season, captaining his country in Joe Root’s absence in the first, the series opener against West Indies.
“Stokes will leave the UK later this week and travel to New Zealand. He will miss England’s two Test matches against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl starting on Thursday 13 August and Friday 21 August. The England and Wales Cricket Board, along with the Stokes family, requests that all media respects the family’s privacy at this time,” the ECB wrote in a statement.
Missing Ben Stokes will be a big blow for the hosts. The reigning ICC Player of the Year has been in stunning form and recently starred with both bat and ball in the Test series win over West Indies last month. He had scored a century, a fifty in addition to picking up 9 wickets as England won the three-match series 2-1 after losing the series opener.
The allrounder, however, failed to make a mark in the first Test against Pakistan. He was out for a duck before scoring nine runs in the second innings. With the ball, he had picked up 2 wickets.
England register thrilling win over Pakistan:
England, meanwhile, beat Pakistan by three wickets in the first Test. Chasing 277 England looked all but beaten at 117-5 before Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler shared a match-winning stand of 139 runs. Woakes remained unbeaten on 84 while Buttler was out for 75.
