IPL 2018: Alex Hales replaces banned David Warner in Sunrisers Hyderabad squad

England's explosive opener Alex Hales on Saturday was picked as a replacement for banned David Warner by the Sunrisers Hyderabad team for the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL).

The daring English batsman was bought for his base price of INR 1 crore from the Registered and Available Player Pool (RAPP) list.

Having lost their otherwise captain, Warner, to the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa which subsequently had him banned from the IPL by the BCCI Sunrisers named Kane Williamson as their new skipper. 

As per reports, Hales, who is the first and only English player till date to score a T20I century, will fill the opener's slot earlier occupied by Warner.

The franchise took to their Twitter handle to announce the induction of Hales in the 'Orange Army'

Earlier in the day, Warner issued an abject apology for his role in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, saying he was resigned to the prospect of never playing cricket for Australia again after his 12-month ban. 

"There's a tiny ray of hope that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again but I`m resigned to the fact that that may never happen again," Warner said during a press conference. 

Steve Smith and Warner were banned from international and domestic cricket for a year and Bancroft was suspended for nine months after the scandal came to light.