Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds is to be sent home from the ICC World Twenty20 in England for disciplinary reasons.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland confirmed Symonds would play no part in the tournament, which begins on Friday.

Australia play their first match on Saturday, when they take on West Indies.

The axing of Symonds follows a breach of team rules involving alcohol.

Captain Ricky Ponting was due to speak about the matter at The Oval.

Following the World Twenty20, Australia will remain in England to contest the Ashes. Symonds had not been due to be involved beyond the end of the ICC World Twenty20.

Sutherland said from Melbourne: "He will come home this evening. The decision has been made due to Andrew, over the last 24-48 hours, breaking a number of team rules.

"In isolation the breaches that I am talking about are not serious, but in the scheme of things, in the scheme of history, they are enough for it to be the final straw.

"I am disappointed in Andrew and also disappointed for Andrew."

"It's alcohol related and other issues related to team rules," Sutherland added.

"It's about Cricket Australia taking responsibility for its employees.

"We understand Andrew has had his share of issues and it's a constant balancing act but today it has tipped too far.

Sutherland added: "The decision was made by the Cricket Australia board following recommendation from management.

"The recommendation from management was made following recommendation from the leadership group, who were unanimous in recommending this course of action."

CA to support Symo rehab

Sutherland confirmed Cricket Australia would continue to stand by the player.

"Absolutely we will continue to support Andrew in his rehabilitation and whatever other support he needs from us," he added.

Australia will now seek to call a replacement player into their 15-man squad for the ICC World Twenty20.

"We'll go through the appropriate course of action with the ICC. One would hope the ICC would look favourably on our application," said Sutherland.

Having only recently been included in Australia's 25-man contracted squad, Sutherland also confirmed the new deal is now being reassessed.

Four years ago Symonds was banned from the Australia team for two matches for turning up for a One-day international against Bangladesh in Cardiff drunk. The team went on to suffer a shock defeat.

Having fought back to establish himself as a regular member of both the Test and ODI teams, Symonds' career hit the crossroads again just over nine months ago when he was sent home from Darwin for going fishing instead of attending a team meeting.

After missing the October tour of India, Symonds was recalled to the Australia team for the Test series against New Zealand but again found himself in hot water after an altercation with a fan at a Brisbane pub.

Cleared of any wrongdoing in that instance, Symonds missed the latter stages of the Australian summer with a knee injury that required surgery and, while he was on the comeback trail, he was again disciplined by CA.

Symonds labelled Brendon McCullum a "lump of s***" after the New Zealand gloveman had signed a one-match contract to play for New South Wales in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash final, insisting he should not have played ahead of an Australian.

Ruled ineligible for selection following that incident in a radio interview, Symonds was not part of the tour to South Africa in February and March but was reinstated in April and had his CA contract renewed.

Overlooked for Ashes selection last month, Symonds was nonetheless chosen in the ICC World Twenty20 squad but, having been threatened by Sutherland with having his contract torn up if he slipped up again, his playing future now looks bleak.