Sam Curran to skip ILT20 as he aims to succeed Ben Stokes in England setup

Sam Curran has chosen to skip Season 5 of the DP World International League T20 in order to potentially succeed Ben Stokes in the England setup following the latter's retirement. The England all-rounder has been a standout player in the UAE’s franchise competition, helping Desert Vipers win their first title last season. However, Curran opted not to return for the next campaign, likely to manage his workload and focus on his England future.

He was considered for a recall after Stokes' departure, but missed out on the squad for the first Test against Pakistan due to injury. England’s chief selector, Marcus North, sees Curran as a key factor for England’s future, given Stokes' all-round contributions. The Vipers retained their core players and added Andries Gous, Shimron Hetmyer, Dan Lawrence, and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman to their squad.

Coach Tom Moody noted that Curran’s decision is due to his busy schedule with England, and while he might return to the Vipers in the future, this year he is stepping away. Lawrence’s recall for the England Test squad against Pakistan could impact his availability for the ILT20, and the Vipers will need to be flexible if they lose him.