Ben Stokes: all-rounder cleared to play for England after affray charge
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Loading... - Patrick Phelps
- 17 Jan 2021
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Ben Stokes will return to international cricket in February, after the ECB lifted his suspension on Wednesday morning. On Monday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that Stokes would be charged with affray, and the England and Wales Cricket Board’s 13 board members convened, with chairman Colin Graves present via conference call from New Zealand. Stokes is expected to join the squad in New Zealand for February’s T20 matches which form part of the Twenty20 tri-series with New Zealand and Australia.
The ECB released the following statement: “Following a full board discussion, in which all considerations were taken into account, the ECB board has agreed that Ben Stokes should now be considered for England selection.
“Given the CPS decision to charge him and two others with affray, confirmation of his intention to contest the charge and the potential length of time to trial, the board agreed that it would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period.
“To date, Stokes has been unavailable for selection throughout the police and CPS process around the incident in Bristol in September, a period which has included one-day Internationals against West Indies, the Ashes tour and the start of the ODI series against Australia.
“The ECB fully respects the legal process and the player’s intention to defend himself against the charge. England selectors, management and players have been informed and Ben Stokes is expected to join the squad in New Zealand for February’s T20 matches .
“The ECB confirmed in December that the independent Cricket Discipline Commission [CDC] would stay the internal disciplinary process for both Alex Hales and Ben Stokes until the conclusion of court proceedings relating to the incident.”
Stokes has been suspended by the ECB since 26 September, when he was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm following the disturbance in the Clifton area of Bristol. After missing the Ashes series in Australia, he was provisionally named in the squad for the current ODI series against Australia. He will now also be able to take his place on the Test tour to New Zealand, which takes place in March.
