Alex Hales expected to join England's training camp despite ban

England batsman Alex Hales is set to join the team’s pre-World Cup training camp despite failing the drug test. The top-order batsman has been named in England’s provisional 15-man squad picked for the WC. The man played in a couple of games in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after the series in the Windies. But he pulled out of Nottinghamshire’s domestic One-Day Cup campaign due to personal reasons.

The 30-year-old Hales, known for his big-hitting in T20s, had made himself unavailable for the games and there was no timetable for his comeback, Nottinghamshire had said in a statement. However, it was revealed on Friday that he had failed the routine hair follicle test and is serving a 21-day ban for his second offence in this aspect.

Hales has played 11 Tests, 70 ODIs and 60 T20Is, scoring over 5,000 runs with seven international hundreds (six in ODIs). He has a strike-rate of 136 plus in the T20 format. His career is witnessing its biggest phase for he not only secured a deal with Nottinghamshire last summer but also found a place in England’s WC team. He is now expected to join the team’s training camp at the weekend according to ESPNCricinfo.

However, these off-field issues might put his career into the doldrums. Though the selectors are yet to comment about his place in the World Cup squad. Alex Hales also found himself in the middle of a brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol and although escaped from facing criminal charges, he was fined by the England Cricket Board and suspended for six matches.

England play first match at WC on May 30

England will be playing their first game of the World Cup on the opening day which is May 30 and it will be against South Africa at the Oval. The Three Lions have never won the title and lost the final on three occasions (1979, 1987 and 1992). This time, it is being said that their chances are high both because of their good forms and the fact that they are the hosts of this edition.

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