LONDON: After the abrupt postponement of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) by Pakistan Cricket Board in Lahore on Tuesday amid reports of an overseas cricketer carrying symptoms of the coronavirus, England batsman Alex Hales, who represented Karachi Kings, came forward to confirm that he did carry a few symptoms and had gone into self-isolation after reaching his home country.

However, Hales clarified that he is yet to be tested for coronavirus and only that will confirm his status.

“In the light of the speculation and rumour that is currently circulating within the cricket world and on social media, I felt I needed to give a full explanation of my situation,” Hales said.

“Like many other overseas players, I reluctantly left the Pakistan Super League early because, with COVID-19 reaching global pandemic status, I felt it was more important to be with my family rather than face a period of lockdown thousands of miles from home.

“I returned to the UK in the early hours of Saturday morning feeling perfectly fit and healthy and with absolutely no symptoms of the virus.

“However, I awoke early on Sunday morning having developed a fever and followed the government’s advice of self-isolation, a process I am obviously still following having developed a dry and persistent cough.

“At this stage, it has not been possible to be tested although I am hopeful that might be the case later today so that I can get absolute confirmation of my current health status.”

The 31-year-old Hales has played 11 Tests, 70 one-dayers and 60 Twenty20 matches for England since making his international debut in 2011.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2020