No curfew for Pakistan series, Joe Root tells England players to be 'adults'

Times of India Published Aug 12, 2026 Reviewed Aug 12, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were suspended for one Test after breaking a team curfew during a night out in London.

1 Test · Stokes and Gus Atkinson

England lost the series 2-1, leading to McCullum stepping down and being replaced by Stephen Fleming.

England currently sit seventh in the World Test Championship standings.

7 rank · England

Root and Fleming will begin their time together with the three-Test series against Pakistan, with the first Test scheduled to start on August 19.

3 Test · Root and Fleming

England's team culture has been under scrutiny since their 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia last year.

England captain Joe Root has said there will be no team curfew during next week's three-Test series against Pakistan, saying players should be trusted to make responsible decisions away from the field.Root, 35, spoke as England's dressing-room culture continues to face scrutiny following a series of off-field incidents over the past year during the tenure of former coach Brendon McCullum and former captain Ben Stokes.Root returned as England's Test captain after Stokes retired during the Test series against New Zealand in June.

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were suspended for one Test after breaking a team curfew during a night out in London.McCullum stepped down after England lost the series 2-1 and was replaced by former New Zealand teammate Stephen Fleming.Despite the previous incidents, Root said England would not introduce a curfew for the Pakistan series."There’s not going to be a curfew.

I don’t think this needs to be a big deal, to be honest," Root said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast published on Wednesday.He said players should be trusted to take responsibility for their actions away from cricket as they are expected to do on the field."My view is that if players are expected to take responsibility on the field, they should be trusted as grown adults to make good decisions off it as well.""That’s something we, as a team, have to manage properly and police ourselves, alongside Stephen Fleming."England's team culture has been under scrutiny since their 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia last year, with several off-field incidents adding to the debate.One of those incidents involved England batter Harry Brook and a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand.ECB chief executive Richard Gould had said in January that England players would face stricter measures, including a midnight curfew.England currently sit seventh in the World Test Championship standings.Root and Fleming will begin their time together with the three-Test series against Pakistan, with the first Test scheduled to start on August 19.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.

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