Responding to a Twitter user, who questioned the authenticity of Stokes’ supposed statements being run on a Pakistan TV channel, the England all-rounder clarified that he “never said” anything about India intentionally underperforming against the hosts in their group stage clash at Edgbaston, with the alleged motive of effecting Pakistan’s exit from the tournament.

His comment came in response to former Pakistan quick Sikandar Bakht’s tweet, which proclaimed that Stokes had written on India’s attempt to eliminate Pakistan from the World Cup in his recently published book, On Fire.

“[T]here was little or no intent from him (Dhoni) or his partner Kedar Jadhav. To me, while victory is still possible you always go for broke.”

A week after the India-England game, Pakistan were officially knocked out of the World Cup, failing to qualify for the semi-finals despite their 94-run win over Bangladesh in their final group game.