Alex Hales’ hopes of representing England at the World Cup 2019 to be held in the United Kingdom came crashing down after the right-hander was withdrawn from all England squads ahead of the international season on Monday, as was serving a 21-day ban from cricket for recreational drug use. Hales’ management company, the 366 Group, said the player was “devastated” after assurances from the England Cricket Board (ECB) were apparently “rendered meaningless”.
“We are hugely disappointed at the treatment of our client, Alex Hales, by the ECB,” Hales’ representatives said in a statement.
“The ECB insisted on Alex taking certain rehabilitation measures following his suspension,” the statement added. “In line with both the ECB and PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association) guidelines, those measures must remain confidential.
“However, at every stage, Alex fulfilled his obligations and both he and his representatives were given assurances that any suspension, again under the ECB’s guidelines, could not affect his selection for the World Cup.”
The ECB announced Hales had been withdrawn from all international squads following an off-field incident not related to cricket.
Hales was included in the 15-man preliminary England World Cup 2019 team for the tournament on home soil, but it emerged last week that he had been sanctioned under the ECB’s disciplinary policy for a second time.
