The International Cricket Council (ICC) has pulled up the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the way Ben Stokes’ retirement announcement was released during the third Test against New Zealand, saying it breached the governing body’s Player and Match Officials’ Area (PMOA) regulations.
Stokes announced earlier this week that he would retire from international cricket after the Trent Bridge Test. However, the timing of the announcement has now become the subject of scrutiny.
On the fourth day of the Test, before play began, Stokes informed his England teammates about his decision inside the dressing room. The speech was filmed by the ECB’s media team, complete with audio, and the footage was later shared with broadcasters and posted on social media shortly before the Tea interval while the match was still in progress.
According to ICC regulations, audio and video recorded inside team dressing rooms during an international match cannot be broadcast before the game has concluded. The PMOA rules, introduced as part of the ICC’s anti-corruption measures, also prohibit the use of fixed or temporary recording equipment inside dressing rooms for broadcast purposes during play.
Following the incident, the ICC wrote to the ECB, informing the board that releasing the footage before the end of the Test did not comply with the minimum PMOA standards.
In its correspondence, the ICC reminded the ECB that any content captured inside the Player and Match Officials’ Area must not contain audio and should not be made public until after the match has finished.
Neither the ICC nor the ECB has issued an official public statement on the matter.
Speaking after the fourth day’s play, Stokes explained that the timing of the announcement had been coordinated between his management team and the ECB.
“I just said, ‘You guys work with Michael Lumb and Neil Fairbrother, who work with me, and you guys just come up with a plan’,” said the all-rounder.
The timing of the announcement created an unusual moment during the match. As news of his retirement spread, Stokes was in the middle of a spell with the ball. Remarkably, he dismissed New Zealand batter Zak Foulkes with the very next delivery after the announcement became public. He eventually brought the curtain down on his international career on the fifth and final day of the Test.
After reports emerged that the ICC had questioned the ECB over the incident, Stokes reacted with his trademark humour.
Posting on social media on Thursday, he wrote simply: “Sack him.”
Stokes’ retirement has also sparked the search for England’s next Test captain ahead of next month’s home series against Pakistan. Vice-captain Harry Brook has already admitted it would be an “honour” to lead England, although the ECB is understood to be taking its time before making a final decision.
England’s next assignment is a three-Test home series against Pakistan, with the opening Test scheduled to begin at Headingley on August 19.