Alex Hales charged by CDC over old social media 'blackface' post

Alex Hales (Source: AP Newsroom)

After a starling performance for his side in T20 World Cup 2022 taking them to glory, Alex Hales is finding himself in controversy again. In recent conduct by Cricket Disciplinary Committee (CDC), Hales has been reprimanded for his decade-old 'blackface' photo which was brought to light by 'The Sun' last year. 

Further, he was under investigation by his county Nottinghamshire for which he apologised. The right-hander expressed his regret but was critical of why these matters are being brought up again. To this, the CDC adjudicator cleared that transparency should not be compromised.

To some relief, the 33-year-old has only been charged but not sanctioned because it was counted as his first offence. Previously, his controversy with Ben Stokes outside the bar in Bristol in 2017 cost him a ban of six white-ball matches, but the adjudicator cited his clear record before 2009 to give him the benefit of doubt.

What Tickle said in his statement

"They were wholly dissimilar. Further, they occurred some eight years after the breach in this case. It would be different if it were a case of repeat offending, of Mr Hales not having learnt his lesson. At the material time - 2009 - he had a clean record. This was his first offence and it is appropriate to treat it as such."

Hales' apology letter mentioned that he is totally against racism. He stated "I echo my statement from earlier in the week and stress how much I deplore racism and discrimination in all its forms. The offense that this has no doubt caused which was incredibly reckless and foolish."

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