LONDON: Batsman James Vince has the chance to earn a place in England’s World Cup squad after being called up for the forthcoming One-day International series against Pakistan.

Vince, 28, replaces Alex Hales who was withdrawn from the preliminary World Cup squad after being suspended following an “off-field incident”.

England have until May 23 to finalise their squad for the tournament.

Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan have also been called up for the ODI in Ireland and the one-off Twenty20 against Pakistan.

England play Ireland in Malahide, near Dublin, on Friday before taking on Pakistan at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on Sunday.

Opener Jason Roy is out of both games because of a back spasm while captain Eoin Morgan and batsman Joe Denly are carrying knocks.

Hampshire’s Vince was already selected for both games.

Surrey player Roy will continue to receive treatment before meeting up with squad before the five-match Pakistan one-day series, which starts at The Oval on May 8 -- their last competitive action before their World Cup campaign starts against South Africa on May 30.

Vince struck a career-best 190 for Hampshire on Friday, hitting 15 fours and five sixes to further enhance his England credentials for this summer.

The Hampshire captain said he had “thought about England briefly” after his side’s victory over Glouces­tershire and, despite not making the preliminary squad, wanted to “prove I am the man to step in”.

Duckett, 24, top-scored as Nottinghamshire made a season-high total in the One-Day Cup last week. He has made 123 runs in his three previous ODI appearances for England, the last of which came in 2016.

Middlesex captain Malan, 31, has registered 724 runs in 15 Test matches and 250 runs in five T20 Internationals.

Durham seamer Mark Wood has also withdrawn and will feature for his County in two Royal London One-Day Cup matches before joining the ODI squad in London next week.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2019