England Test captain Ben Stokes has made it clear that he isn’t too concerned about the surprise exclusion of Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam from the team for the second and third Tests.

With Pakistan making big changes to their squad after a poor showing in the first Test, Stokes expressed that such decisions are solely Pakistan’s concern, as his focus remains entirely on his own team.

BET NOW: Bet here on the ongoing PAK vs ENG Test series and win cash bonuses

Why was Babar Azam dropped?

Pakistan’s decision to drop Babar Azam, along with fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, has been one of the major talking points of the ongoing Test series.

Babar’s struggles in Test cricket continued in the first match, where he managed scores of just 30 and 5, further extending a lean patch that has seen him fail to reach a half-century in his last 18 innings.

Despite his struggles, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) framed his omission as “resting,” a move aimed at giving the underperforming players a break.

MORE: Pakistan vs England, 2nd Test: Expected lineups, head-to-head, predictions and betting odds for PAK vs ENG match in Multan

How did Ben Stokes respond to Babar Azam losing his place?

When asked about Babar Azam’s exclusion during a pre-match press conference, Ben Stokes showed little interest in the issue.

“Everything on that, that is Pakistan cricket’s issue and has nothing to do with me,” said Stokes, brushing aside any concerns about Babar’s absence.

Sweetly done, Ben Stokes 🎯#PAKvENG

pic.twitter.com/ltFQKStU9A

— Ameer Hamza Asif (@AmeerHamzaAsif) October 14, 2024

Stokes is clearly focusing on his side, rather than getting caught up in the decisions of the opposing team.

How has Pakistan reacted to the changes?

The reactions from fans and former cricketers to Babar’s removal have been mixed. While some believe that resting the out-of-form batter could benefit him in the long run, others see it as a bold and risky decision from the PCB.

BET NOW: Bet here on the upcoming IND vs NZ Test series and win cash bonuses

Pakistan’s defeat in the first Test in Multan triggered these major changes, as the team struggled collectively, despite individual performances from Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, and Salman Ali Agha.