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

Sam Curran has decided to skip the Season 5 of the DP World International League T20 in order to focus on potentially rejoining the England cricket setup following Ben Stokes' retirement. Curran has been a standout player in the UAE’s franchise competition, playing a key role in the Desert Vipers’ first-ever title win last season.

England’s chief selector, Marcus North, mentioned Curran as a potential recall candidate after Stokes’ departure, but Curran missed out on the first Test squad against Pakistan due to an injury. The England team will need to adjust its lineup because of Stokes’ absence. Curran, known for his left-arm seaming and left-handed batting skills, has garnered support from fans.

The Vipers are set to retain their core players, including Andries Gous, Shimron Hetmyer, Dan Lawrence, and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. Curran’s decision to take a break aligns with the Vipers’ director of cricket, Tom Moody, who stated that Curran has a heavy workload and is also resuming international cricket for England.

While Curran’s absence may impact the Vipers’ title defense, the team is prepared to adapt to his absence.