NEW DELHI: Former England pace sensation Stuart Broad has thrown his weight behind talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes‘ decision to skip this year’s T20 World Cup due to fitness concerns.
In an exclusive interaction at the Star Sports studio, Broad expressed support for Stokes’ decision, stating, “Whatever Ben decides to do for the well-being of himself is the right decision.”

Acknowledging Stokes’ track record of making sound career choices, Broad emphasized the significance of prioritizing health and workload management.

“He wants to get back to (being) the all-rounder that he was and he feels like getting some workload through the knee in a controlled environment, without the help of a scale to pressurise the nature of a T20 World Cup, is the best choice,” he said.
While discussing fast bowler Jofra Archer‘s recurring injury woes, Broad voiced optimism about his return to form, hoping to see him feature in the T20 World Cup.
“Yeah, it’s a concern. First of all, (he is) a friend of mine, a teammate of mine, an amazing talent for world cricket. He has got genuine pace, he moves the ball. He’s a match winner,” Broad said.

“We’ve not seen the best of Jofra Archer on the field now, for coming on, nearly four years. He’s played bits and bobs, but he’s had awful injury problems which is very difficult for him to cope with.
“I think there’s positivity from him and the England camp that there’s a chance we might see him in the T20 World Cup, which would be a great lift for England fans and cricket fans around the world,” he added.
Regarding England’s T20 World Cup prospects, Broad noted that while Stokes’ absence would be felt in terms of leadership, England possess sufficient depth to cover his role. He praised England’s batting and bowling options, expressing confidence in their ability to compensate for Stokes’ absence as a player.
(Inputs from PTI)