The England and Wales Cricket Board is reportedly facing questions from the ICC over how it released a video of Ben Stokes announcing his retirement to team-mates.
What happened
Stokes told the England dressing room of his decision before play on Day 4, and the ECB filmed his emotional address. The footage went to broadcasters and was posted on social media shortly before tea, with the Test still under way.
The ICC’s concern
The ICC has reportedly said that publishing both the video and its audio may have breached its Players’ and Match Officials’ Areas (PMOA) minimum standards. Article 2.2.11 requires boards to ensure that no fixed or temporary cameras or recording equipment in team dressing rooms are used to broadcast video or audio during a match.
The governing body says it had earlier told the ECB that any footage taken inside the PMOA should carry no audio and stay unpublished until play had finished. A formal letter reportedly stated that the ECB broke the rules by recording and broadcasting the speech before the Test ended.
Stokes and the timing
After the day’s play, Stokes said the timing had been agreed with both his management and the ECB. When the news broke he was in the middle of a bowling spell, and with his next delivery he dismissed New Zealand’s Zak Foulkes.
The ICC introduced the PMOA rules to strengthen anti-corruption measures and protect the integrity of the game. Neither body has commented publicly, and the ECB has not yet responded to the letter.
