London, May 18 (IANS): Pacer Stuart Broad has apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for missing a sponsor's event apparently because of drinking.

Broad was reportedly engaged in a drinking session with ex-England wicketkeeper Matt Prior and failed to show up for the launch of the upcoming New Zealand series on Thursday.

Broad’s England teammate Ian Bell had to fill in for the pacer.

"I woke up with a migraine," he was quoted as saying by bbc.com on Monday.

"I wasn't on England duty for the ECB. But I did apologise for putting them in that position. It was probably not as bad as it was portrayed," the 28-year-old added.

An ECB spokeswoman said on Friday Brad missed the programme due to illness.

"Stuart Broad was scheduled to appear as an ambassador for a personal sponsor but was unable to attend. We were told it was due to illness," the spokeswoman said.

Broad was apologetic for his conduct and admitted he should have avoided the unnecessary controversy in which he dragged ECB into.

"After the week they've had with Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen, it was probably not what they needed," he said.