England's World Cup preparations have been hit by fresh turmoil surrounding Alex Hales who is currently serving a 21 day suspension for recreational drug use.
And former England captain Michael Vaughan has led the calls for Hales to now be ditched from the World Cup squad for the tournament that begins next month.
The 30-year-old is understood to have apologised and offered full contrition to the England management for what a spokesperson has called 'an-off field incident last year.'
However with the ban only triggered by a second failed test in Hales's career it remains to be seen whether his insistence that he is fully focused on and committed to his cricket will be enough to make sure that he is retained in the final World Cup squad come May 23rd when the final decision is due.
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Vaughan though is in no doubt what skipper Eoin Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss should do with a player who was found to have brought the game into disrepute last year following a late night street fight in Bristol.
Vaughan tweeted: “No sympathy whatsoever for Alex Hales. Second time he has failed a recreational drugs test!!! Should not be anywhere near the World Cup squad in my opinion.”
Hales will still meet up with the England squad in Cardiff this weekend and is currently still slated to travel to Ireland for the first ODI of the summer next Friday with the ban due to finish the day before.
But it is hard to see how managing director Ashley Giles can continue the current wall of silence from the ECB over a player who, while capable of extraordinary feats on the field, is clearly also capable of self destruction off it.
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A statement released on behalf of Hales read: “He will be joining the squad in preparation for next week’s games and will be available for selection.
“Whilst the issue is not cricket related, Hales accepted that it was right that he was suspended.
"He is now fully focused on returning to cricket and is committed to working tirelessly for both Nottinghamshire and England throughout the summer.”
