The latest development revealed England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are highly likely to hand over the new central contracts to the under scanner star all-rounder Ben Stokes and opening batsman Alex Hales.
The Sky Sport discovered the deal is taking place although the brawl has become the controversial-debate across the cricketing globe which further drew flak, as a threat is looming large for Stokes’ participation in the upcoming Ashes 2017-18.
The deal is expected to happen on Friday, and the reports suggested the Stokes is likely to fetch the lucrative contract owing to the increment for Hales which is a level-down from the former.
ECB management is yet to decide the suspended players, as the case is further subjected to a police investigation.
The duo is concurrently unavailable for the national selection due to the ongoing investigation from Avon and Somerset police after savage Bristol street-brawl left reportedly a former British soldier severely injured near the Pub.
The 26-year-old Durham-based Stokes thrashed two men when he was with teammate Hales, in the wee hours of September 25 (Monday), soon after England won Bristol One-day international by 124 runs at County Ground.
Pertinently, the promising prospects in the form of Stokes and Hales were suspended for the remainder of the ODI series in the last week of September, as the ECB statement further revealed the players are suspended until further orders from the cricket Board.
Eventually, the five-match Royal London series was clinched by Joe Root-led England 4-0, as the second fixture at Trent Bridge in Nottingham was washed out by rain on September 21.
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Stokes, who has been already named in the 16-member squad for the Ashes series scheduled for November 23 in Brisbane, was backed by cricketers before the thorough investigation will decide his fate whether he would go to represent the Three Lions in defending the Ashes which they won in 2015.
On October 4, Stokes and Hales missed out on the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) Awards.
Earlier, the announcement regarding the contracts for the players was delayed due to the Stokes controversy, as the Board has further shown keen interest to keep the prominent player under its contracted list.
Both players are highly likely to collect full salary even after facing a legal case in the southwest city of the United Kingdom.
Interestingly, the both players were grilled before the CCTV footage of the street-fight was released by British tabloid The Sun to allow the police to crack the case.
Stokes would get married in the second-half of this month to Clare Ratcliffe.