Alex Hales Out Of England World Cup Squad

English batsmen Alex Hales will not feature in the World Cup 2019 after being withdrawn from all International squads. The decision to withdraw Hales was taken by ECB following an off-field incident. Alex Hales was included in the 15-man squad for the World Cup but it appeared for the second time that Hales has been sanctioned under ECB’s disciplinary policy.

Alex Hales was involved in a night club altercation with his teammate Ben Stokes in 2017. He was fined and suspended following the incident.  The Nottinghamshire batsman was named in the preliminary England squad for the World Cup but he was serving a three-week ban from cricket for recreational drug use.

The ECB said on Monday, “Alex Hales has been withdrawn from all England squads ahead of the international season. We have thought long and hard about this decision.”

“We have worked hard to create the right environment around the England team and need to consider what is in the best interests of the team, to ensure they are free from any distractions and able to focus on being successful on the pitch. I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex’s career as an England player,” Ashley Giles, managing director of England’s Men Cricket said in a statement.

“I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex’s career as an England player,” clarified Giles.

A company managing and representing Alex Hales said in a statement after ECB’s decision that Hales was “given assurances that any suspension could not affect his selection for the World Cup. The fact all those assurances seem to have been rendered meaningless has understandably left Alex devastated.”

The management company added, “Nobody is seeking to excuse Alex’s behavior in this instance. He absolutely acknowledges and recognizes he made a huge mistake. The ECB insisted on Alex taking certain rehabilitation measures following his suspension. In line with both the ECB and PCA guidelines, those measures must remain confidential. However, at every stage, Alex fulfilled his obligations.”

Alex Hales has scored over six centuries and scored over 2500 runs with an average of 38 runs. The World Cup begins on May 30 with the host England taking on South Africa in London.