England’s ace all-rounder Ben Stokes has left the door open for his possible comeback to the ODI team despite announcing retirement from the 50-over format earlier this year.

Stokes, who was part of England’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2019, had called time on his 50-over career in July, citing that he was not being able to give his 100 percent and playing all three formats amid a busy schedule is "unsustainable" for him.

However, the 31-year-old has not ruled out the possibility of coming out of ODI retirement for England's title defence of the 50-over World Cup next year.

"Who knows how I might feel towards a World Cup at the time," Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Stokes starred in England's 2019 ODI World Cup final win and the recently held T20 World Cup 2022 final victory. The next 50-over World Cup is slated to be played in India in October-November in 2023.

"It's one of those things. Going to a World Cup is an amazing thing to do, to represent your country," he said.

"But at the moment I'm not even thinking about that. My focus is solely on this series (against Pakistan)."

Stokes also revealed that he was approached by director of cricket Rob Key in the aftermath of the T20 World Cup win about a return for the ODI World Cup.

"He pulled me to the side and as soon as he said '50-over World Cup' I just walked away," he said.

While announcing his ODI retirement, Stokes had warned the authorities over the amount of multi-format cricket players are expected to take part in.

"There is too much cricket rammed in for people to play all three formats now," he said in July. "We are not cars, you can't just fill us up and we'll go out there and be ready to be fuelled up again."

Stokes, however, had brushed aside the suggestion that he would come back to play the 50-over World Cup in 2023.

"It wouldn't be fair on anyone who gets that opportunity with me not playing this format now to all of a sudden be like, 'Yeah, I'll come back'," he had said.

(With PTI inputs)