England scraps midnight curfew on men’s cricket team under new captain Joe Root

LONDON (AP) — The midnight curfew on the England men's cricket team has been lifted under the leadership of Joe Root. The restriction was introduced by managing director Rob Key in response to late-night incidents during the winter tours of New Zealand and Australia. Former captain Ben Stokes was suspended and later retired from test cricket after going out past the curfew during a match against New Zealand in June, which led to the current change.

Newly appointed captain Root believes curfews are ineffective and that players should be trusted to make responsible decisions off the field. The team is set to begin a three-match test series against Pakistan next week, with Root emphasizing the importance of fostering a positive culture within the squad.