Stokes, Hales charged for bringing disrepute to game

England and Wales Cricket Board on Tuesday confirmed that the independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) has charged bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes and right-hand batsman Alex Hales for bringing disrepute to the game of cricket following a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub.

CDC, which was tasked with conducting an internal enquiry in the matter, will conduct the hearing on December 5 and 7.

Earlier in August, Stokes had been acquitted in the affray charges by the court. Alex Hales, on the other hand, was not charged at all.

Both the players were charged with two counts of breaching ECB directive 3.3 which states, "No-one may conduct themselves 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."

The brawl took place after Stokes and Hales went out to celebrate England's victory over West Indies in a match in Bristol on September 24.

Stokes had to miss five Test matches, seven ODIs and four T20Is following his involvement in the incident.