Ben Stokes' police investigation going nowhere, awaiting for two specific witnesses

With Ashes around the corner, time is running out for both Ben Stokes and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as the investigation process goes nowhere with police waiting for statements from two specific witnesses’ to go ahead and charge Stokes in the street-brawl case.

The other new dimension to the case involved is the renewal of Stokes’ central contract which is due on Friday. Apparently, the police made an appeal to the witness to come forward, but they seem to be in oblivion. One day England’s victory over West Indies in the final ODI, during the early hours of September 25, England star all-rounder Ben Stokes engaged in a fist fight outside a pub in Bristol.

According to the video footage, one of the punches on the injured the victim severely as he lay flat on the ground. The victim turned out to be an army veteran who served in Afghanistan. Later on, the 26-year old was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police for allegedly punching the ex-British Army personnel.

If charges on Stokes is not levelled soon, the matter will go to Crown Prosecution Service

After being released in a couple of hours, Stokes was suspended from playing any sort of competitive cricket by ECB. The other cricketer involved in the brawl is opener Alex Hales, who has been suspended for an indefinite period as well.

Further, Stokes was named in the squad for the Ashes 2017-2018 but later withdrawn by the ECB. As per Daily Mail, if the charges on the Durham player is not levelled soon, the matter will go to Crown Prosecution Service. The cricketing pundits and former England International have severely condemned this act from Stokes and has asked him to act with maturity in the future.

This is not the first time Stokes’ has been involved in disciplinary issues in his career due to late-night drinking. Back in 2013, Stokes was sent home from a Lions Tour. It was also reported that he was out partying during a Test match at Old Trafford this summer.