ICC World Cup 2019 | ECB drop Alex Hales from all England squads after second drug offense
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have dropped Alex Hales from all England squads, including the World Cup preliminary squad, in the wake of his 21-day ban for using recreational drugs. ECB released a statement saying the decision was taken by England selectors, headed by Ed Smith.
Hales, who first made himself unavailable for his county just nine days ago for "personal reasons", was subsequently banned for 21 days by the England and Wales Cricket Board for recreational drug use. As per ECB’s policy, all professional men’s cricketers in England and Wales, along with all the centrally contracted women’s players, are subject to hair follicle tests at the start and end of every season, and Hales has failed for the second time in his career and keeping that in mind, ECB handed a strong punishment in the form of dropping the opener from all squads.
"Consideration was given to creating the right environment within the team and ensuring that there are no unnecessary distractions and that the team is in the best position to succeed going into this crucial period," read the statement, reported Cricinfo.
"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,” Ashley Giles, ECB's managing director of England men's cricket, was quoted by the same publication as saying.
"I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex's career as an England player. The ECB and the PCA will continue to aid Alex and work alongside his county club Nottinghamshire to give him the support he needs, to help him fulfil his potential as a professional cricketer."
After this, the Nottinghamshire batsman will not be in the squads for the one-off ODI against Ireland and the T20I series against Pakistan, the five-match ODI series against Pakistan and his name has been taken out from the 15-man preliminary World Cup squad.
While ECB haven’t named an immediate replacement, for the fact that they have time until May 23 to finalise their World Cup squad, James Vince, who has been in form in the Royal London Cup with 402 runs from five innings so far, including a remarkable innings of 190 against Gloucestershire, is likely to be the man who will be with the team for the Ireland and Pakistan team.
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