Stokes and Hales disciplinary process underway

Two England cricketers, Ben Stokes and Alex Hales, are set to be heard by Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) panel after being charged with bringing the sport into disrepute.

The experienced England duo have been charged with two counts of breaching ECB Directive 3.3 following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017.

The directive states: “No Participant may conduct themself in a manner or do any act or omission at any time which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group of Cricketers into disrepute.”

Following a trial at Bristol Crown Court, Stokes was found not guilty of affray; however, he and Hales must now face a disciplinary panel from the CDC.

The CDC is funded by the ECB but is an independent organisation who has the power to sanction members of the sport with various punishments, including warnings and termination of contracts.

Should Hales and Stokes be sanctioned, the duo could lodge an appeal to an independent appeal panel but it would need to be lodged within fourteen days of the CDC decision.

The private hearing is set to take place in London over two days, December 5th and December 7th. The ECB is expected to provide a written statement once the CDC hearing has come to a decision.