Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson cleared in nightclub incident; inquiry panel delivers verdict

New Delhi: England captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have been given a clean chit by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding a nightclub incident. Following the incident, the England team management had taken a tough stance, leaving both Stokes and Atkinson out of the squad for the second Test.

In their absence, Joe Root captained the team during the second Test, which England lost by 253 runs. However, following an investigation, the Independent Cricket Regulator clarified that no further action would be taken against Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson.

After winning the first Test, both players had visited a London nightclub, breaching the team’s midnight curfew. There, they were allegedly involved in an altercation with a player from the English rugby club Saracens.

The situation escalated when the rugby player assaulted the team’s security officer, resulting in the officer requiring stitches. Following the incident, questions were raised about Stokes’s captaincy, and he faced significant criticism.

Speculation also mounted that the England captain might be considering retirement from international cricket. After receiving a warning from the ECB, both players have been included in the squad for the third Test match starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday, June 25.

The independent regulatory body overseeing disciplinary matters in cricket stated that a thorough investigation was conducted, involving a detailed assessment of the available facts and evidence.

In its statement, the body noted that after a meticulous review of all documents, testimonies, and other information, it found no concrete evidence to prove that the players in question had violated any rules. Consequently, it was decided not to take any further action in the matter.