Two members of the England cricket team’s management were seen drinking in the early hours with the players disciplined for breaching team rules, The Times can reveal.

However, Kevin Shine, the bowling coach, and Jeremy Snape, who is on a short-term appointment to help the players with the mental side of the game, will not be punished by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The fallout from Friday night continued to settle yesterday as Andrew Flintoff was replaced by Ravi Bopara for the World Cup group match against Canada — in which England laboured to victory — and dismissed as the unofficial vice-captain to Michael Vaughan. Five players were fined along with Flintoff: James Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Ian Bell, Jon Lewis and Paul Nixon.

Flintoff received the heaviest sanction after reports that he was rescued by hotel staff when he drunkenly capsized a pedalo on the sea at about 4am on Saturday. The other players were spotted at the nearby Rumours nightclub, in some cases at about 3am, prompting complaints from England supporters, although the controversy was put into context as news spread of the death of Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach.

In a statement issued after yesterday’s 51-run win, Flintoff said: “What I did was completely wrong and I have to take full responsibility. There are no excuses on my part and I have to accept the punishment. I am extremely sorry and assure everyone that I will be giving 110 per cent for the rest of this tournament.”

England have decided not to impose a curfew before the remaining matches. Vaughan said: “The players are disappointed and angry with themselves, I am angry and so are the supporters. Drinking two days before a game is going to have an effect on your body and mind because the alcohol could still be there.” Questions will be asked of Shine and Snape, who witnessed the presence of the guilty players in the club little more than 24 hours before the match against Canada that England needed to win. Shine joined the group after spending the early evening elsewhere with his brother, Steve.

Andrew Walpole, an ECB spokesman, said: “They have not been fined and their presence with the players is not an issue as far as the team management is concerned.” Snape is scheduled to leave the squad shortly to prepare for the 2007 season as the Leicestershire one-day captain.

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, revealed that Flintoff, 29, has been disciplined and warned about his conduct after previous incidents. He was taken to the bosom of the nation as “one of the lads” after his dishevelled Ashes victory celebration in 2005, but on this occasion he chose the wrong time to go out.

Flintoff will be available for the final group match against Kenya on Saturday, which England must win to go through to the Super Eights. Having fallen for a first-ball duck against New Zealand three days ago, he needs to contribute to restore his damaged reputation.

Nasser Hussain, Vaughan’s predecessor, backed the decision to suspend Flintoff and voiced his concern about a possible drinking culture in the England team. “He had three or four warnings in Australia and enough is enough,” Hussain said. “This will send out a message that you cannot prepare this way as an England cricketer.”

The charge was denied by Vaughan, who said: “I don’t see a drinking culture there. What I see is probably a little bit of immaturity on Friday night and a lack of common sense. It was a big mistake and a bad mistake, but I don’t think it goes any deeper than that.”

As the competition runs on, the announcement that Flintoff will not be considered as stand-in replacement if Vaughan suffers further injury problems leaves England facing a potential vacuum in power because Andrew Strauss has recently lost his place in the one-day team.

Paul Collingwood, who was named man of the match yesterday for scoring an unbeaten half-century when England’s middle order wobbled again, is the only realistic alternative and took charge briefly during the warm-up match against Bermuda. Realistically, though, England must cross fingers that Vaughan’s troublesome knee and hamstring hold firm.