The management company of Alex Hales says the player is “devastated” with the ECB’s decision to withdraw the top-order batsman from England’s World Cup squad, and are “extremely disappointed” with the way he has been treated.

The player’s advisers insist the Nottinghamshire ace was given assurances that his recent misdemeanours would not result in removal from England’s World Cup plans – promises which they believe “have been rendered meaningless”.

It was reported by the Guardian on Friday that Hales had been slapped with a 21-day ban from cricket after taking recreational drugs.

An ECB statement on Monday morning said that Hales was to be “withdrawn from all England squads ahead of the international summer”, including this Friday’s T20I against Ireland, the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Despite Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy being the preferred partnership at the top of the order in ODI cricket, Hales’ omission for the latter tournament is far from ideal for England, who are looking to claim their first World Cup victory when the tournament commences on home soil on May 30.

It appears Hampshire’s James Vince is at the top of the list of candidates to replace Hales in the World Cup squad. He was today drafted into England’s 17-man squad for the ODI series against Pakistan.

Ashley Giles, ECB managing director of England Cricket, said on Monday morning: “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.”

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The former England left-arm spinner insisted that “this is not the end of Alex’s career” and that the ECB and Professional Cricketers’ Association would continue to provide support for the player.

However, those words have done little to cushion the blow. Whilst acknowledging that “Nobody is seeking to excuse Alex’s behaviour” and that “He absolutely acknowledges and recognises he made a huge mistake”, the batsman’s management team has accused senior members of the ECB of going back on their word.

“The ECB insisted on Alex taking certain rehabilitation measures following his suspension,” the management team said in a statement. “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.

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“It is unfortunate that a confidential matter made it to the public arena but, even before the publication of the story, Alex had again spoken to key members of the England organisation to express his regret and contrition. At that time, he again took away the message his World Cup place would be judged on playing merit. The fact all those assurances seem to have been rendered meaningless has understandably left Alex devastated.

“Until the matter became public, the ECB had fully observed their own process and guidelines and given Alex the support and guidance laid out in those regulations. It is now disappointing to learn these guidelines seem to have been disregarded while, in this instance, player welfare would also appear to be low on their list of priorities.”

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Hales’ current ban is not the first time he has been sanctioned under the ECB’s disciplinary policy. The Notts batsman was charged for his role in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub also involving Ben Stokes in September 2017.

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EnglandNottinghamshire Alex HalesInternational Cricket