England captain Ben Stokes is staying focused on his team’s preparations for the second Test against Pakistan, despite the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s decision to drop key players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah ¹ ². When asked about Pakistan’s surprising move, Stokes simply stated, “That’s Pakistan’s cricket issue. Nothing to do with me” ¹ ².
It’s clear that Stokes is prioritizing his team’s goals over getting caught up in the drama surrounding Pakistan’s squad changes. England is looking to build on their dominant performance in the first Test, where they won by an innings and 47 runs ¹. With Stokes returning from a hamstring injury and fast bowler Matthew Potts joining the lineup, England is poised to make a strong showing in the second Test ¹.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s decision to drop Babar Azam has sparked mixed reactions from fans and former cricketers ³ ². Some see it as a necessary move to give the underperforming player a break, while others view it as a bold and risky decision ³ ². Azam’s struggles in Test cricket have been well-documented, with 18 consecutive innings without a half-century ³. Despite this, his omission from the squad has raised eyebrows, and it remains to be seen how Pakistan will fare without their star batter ³ ².
