Stokes replaced in England squad
Ben Stokes has been replaced by Dawid Malan in England’s oneday international squad to face Australia this month.
Allrounder Stokes was named in the squad last month, even though he remains unavailable for international selection as he waits to learn if he will be charged over an incident outside a Bristol nightclub on September 25.
The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday announced that Malan, already in Australia for the Ashes test campaign, will remain – and Stokes will therefore not fly out for the five-match series which starts on January 14.
In a brief statement, the governing body also confirmed Stokes has been granted a no objection certificate to enter the lucrative Indian Premier League auction at the end of this month.
It read: ‘‘England’s selectors have added Dawid Malan to the one-day international squad for the series against Australia, starting on January 14.
‘‘Ben Stokes will not travel with the group of players leaving the UK on January 2, pending CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] advice on the incident in Bristol in September.
‘‘Should ECB receive formal confirmation that he has either, a) been charged or, b) will face no charges, the ECB board would convene within 48 hours to make a decision on his availability to represent England at that stage.
‘‘ECB can also confirm that Ben Stokes has been given approval to enter the IPL draft and granted a no objection certificate [NOC].’’
Stokes’ situation will become clearer only when the CPS, which began considering his case at the end of last month, advises police whether to charge him.
Only after the criminal case is concluded will an ECB cricket discipline commission rule on any further penalty for Stokes, who has not represented his country since September 24.
The 26-year-old played a starring role in his maiden IPL campaign for Rising Pune Supergiant last year after signing a £1.7 million (NZ$3.2 million) deal.
Malan, meanwhile, is uncapped in ODI cricket but made a fine impression on his Twenty20 debut last summer and has since gone on to establish himself in England’s Test team, including with a maiden century in Perth.
England’s squad for the Twenty 20 tri-series, starting on February 3 against Australia and New Zealand, will be confirmed next week.