On April 26, Nottinghamshire and England batsman Hales was suspended for 21 days after committing a recreational drug use infringement for the second time.

The 30-year old Hales was also sanctioned by the ECB in December 2018, when the board decided to ban him for six ODIs (four of them suspended) for his part in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in September that year. He and Ben Stokes accepted the ECB’s charges of bringing the game into disrepute, although Stokes was cleared of affray at Bristol Crown Court, and Hales faced no criminal charges.

“The ECB, his county, and Professional Cricketers Association have a duty of care and there is always sympathy for a player who has found himself in that situation,” he said. “That is a different situation to if he should be selected though.

“Whatever decision Ashley Giles and the selectors make, they will be absolutely fuming that this now is the story on the eve of the World Cup. They [the players] have been told in no uncertain terms that any further transgressions will be harshly dealt with, and in this circumstance, that is what I expect to happen.

“It is a judgement call, and I can easily see the other argument, which is that the 21-day ban, once you’ve undergone it that you are available for selection.”

The ECB are yet to comment on the story, but Hales is now set to miss at least the upcoming ODI against Ireland and the first four ODIs against Pakistan.