Hales out of England World Cup squad

Batsman Alex Hales will not play for England at the World Cup after being withdrawn from all international squads due to an off-field incident not related to cricket.

Hales was in England's 15-man preliminary World Cup squad, but it emerged on Friday he had been sanctioned for a second time under the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) disciplinary policy.

"Alex Hales has been withdrawn from all England squads ahead of the international season," an ECB statement said.

Hales' latest misdemeanour comes just months after his suspension and fine over the infamous street brawl in Bristol in September 2017, also involving Test allrounder Ben Stokes.

The batsman has been stood down from Friday's one-off Twenty20 against Ireland in Malahide, a T20 and ODI series against Pakistan and the World Cup.

"We have thought long and hard about this decision," said Ashley Giles, ECB managing director of England Cricket.

"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.

"I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex's career as an England player.

"The ECB and the PCA (Professional Cricketers' Association) will continue to aid Alex ... to give him the support he needs to help him fulfil his potential as a professional cricketer."

The incident in Bristol - his sanction was also because of some social media posts - led to Hales losing his place in England's first-choice ODI team.

Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy have been the preferred openers for 18 months, although Hales - with 2419 ODI runs at 37.79 and six centuries - had been viewed as an excellent back-up.

The ECB will name his replacement "in due course".

England face a monumental next few months. They are favourites to win their home World Cup, which begins on May 30, having risen to No.1 in the ICC's ODI rankings.

Hales, who last year signed a white-ball only deal with Nottinghamshire, missed the start of the domestic one-day cup earlier this month.

Nottinghamshire said the 30-year-old had "made himself unavailable for selection for personal reasons" but a spokesperson said on Friday he had been suspended for an "off-field incident".

"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."