Andrew Flintoff was stripped of the England vice-captaincy after being dropped for the World Cup match against Canada here Sunday because of his off-field behaviour.

All-rounder Flintoff, who was not at the Beausejour ground for the Group C game, was omitted after reports he'd been one of a number of players who'd stayed out drinking until the early hours of Saturday morning following England's six-wicket defeat by New Zealand in their opening game here Friday.

However, he will be available for England's match against Kenya on Saturday.

"It has been decided that Andrew Flintoff will not be considered for the England captaincy should Michael Vaughan be injured at any stage during the tournament," said an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement.

ECB chief executive David Collier said: "The conduct of the players who have been disciplined was unacceptable and falls below the high standards of behaviour required of England cricketers."

Flintoff, whose place Sunday was taken by Ravi Bopara, was one of six England players who were fined Saturday by coach Duncan Fletcher for a breach of team discipline on Friday night.

The others were James Anderson, Ian Bell, Jon Lewis, Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett.

Fletcher said Flintoff had been warned before about his conduct after similiar incidents.

"Andrew Flintoff has been given warnings about his conduct and disciplined for previous incidents of this nature," Fletcher explained.

"In light of this and due to the serious nature of the incident which he was involved in at the hotel on Friday night, we have decided to take further disciplinary action against him.

"Andrew has been made fully aware of the team management's concerns and the fact that the ECB considers this type of behaviour to be totally unacceptable.

"He will remain with the World Cup squad and be available for selection for our next match against Kenya," Fletcher added.

"All players involved wish to express their sincere regret for the embarrassment caused to their team mates, the England supporters and the ECB."

The News of the World, Britain's biggest-selling Sunday newspaper, reported that Flintoff had to be rescued at 4am local time after capsizing a pedalo following the loss to New Zealand.

Former, England skipper Nasser Hussain, who captained Flintoff, said the Lancashire star had been given "three or four warnings about his drinking" prior to being dropped for the Canada match.

Hussain, England captain from 1999 to 2003 and now a Sky commentator, said of Flintoff's conduct in St Lucia: "This is not the way to behave as an England cricketer."

But Ian Botham, the former England all-rounder and a man Flintoff is often compared to as a cricketer, insisted there had been an over-reaction.

Botham said no-one had complained about Flintoff's behaviour when, the day after England had won an Ashes series against Australia for the first time in 19 years in 2005, he was seen to be hung over when the team enjoyed a victory parade through the streets of London and met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"I think it's an over-reaction," said former England skipper Botham. "Did people complain in 2005 when we won the Ashes? Some people go to bed at 10.30pm tired, other people like to go for a drink."

Flintoff, 29, captained England to victory in their triangular series final win against hosts Australia last month after Vaughan played just three matches in a tournament also featuring New Zealand because of a hamstring problem.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)