England fast bowler Ben Stokes, who was arrested following a brawl accusation with two men outside a nightclub in Bristol, has been acquitted of the affray charges by the court.
The 27-year-old, who was calm during the proceeding, shut his eyes for a moment after the pronouncement of the verdict and his wife, on the other hand, broke down in tears, ESPNcricinfo.com reported.
Stokes was accused to have bullied two homosexual men and punching Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale outside a nightclub.
Ali, who was also accused of same charges as Stokes, was also declared non-guilty by the court.
During the hearing, Stokes admitted to have punched Ali and Hale but insisted that all his actions were in self-defence. The argument was accepted by the court which ultimately led to his acquittal.
The verdict in Stokes' favour means that the bowler would now be available for the third Test of the ongoing five-match series against India at Trent Bridge.
Stokes had to miss five Test matches, seven ODIs and four T20Is following his involvement in the incident.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
