Hales withdrawn from England's World Cup squad

Cricket - Sri Lanka vs England - England Practice Session - Dambulla, Sri Lanka - October 8, 2018. England's Alex Hales looks on during a practice session ahead of their first One Day International cricket match with Sri Lanka. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

(Reuters) - Batsman Alex Hales has been withdrawn from England's preliminary World Cup squad to avoid any "unnecessary distractions" ahead of the showpiece tournament, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.

Hales is serving a three-week ban for recreational drug use, the Guardian newspaper reported on Friday.