Coronavirus: England Cricketer Alex Hales Tests Positive For Covid-19 After Playing In PSL, Claim Reports

Alex Hales, the England cricketer who represented Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Supre League (PSL), has tested positive for Covid-19, claimed several reports on Tuesday. Meanwhile, PCB postponed the T20 league hours before the semifinal was scheduled to be played. While, the Pakistan Cricket Board did not reveal the player's name it confirmed that one overseas player was suspected to to have coronavirus and flown out of Pakistan. A report in gulfnews identified the player as Hales saying the England player has tested positive. Several other reports including one quoting former Pakistan player Rameez Raja also identified the cricketer as Hales. According to gulfnews, all players and broadcasters are now being tested for the virus as a precautionary measure.

Rameez Raja on Tuesday claimed that Hales might have shown symptoms of the COVID-19 before flying back. Raja made the statement while talking to the media in Lahore after the PSL was postponed on the day of its semifinal matches and a day before the final.

"What I know is that he is yet to have tests but we don't know whether the symptoms he has is of Corona or not. But we all now need to be very cautious and obviously adopt a common sense approach to deal with this problem," Raja said. Raja also felt that PCB had taken the right decision to postpone the event, which was to have its semifinals on Tuesday in Lahore.

British media confirmed that the 31-year-old Hales has reportedly gone into self-isolation after reaching England.

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In the PSL semifinals, Multan Sultans were to take on Peshawar Zalmi at 2pm at the Gaddafi Stadium, followed by a clash between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars at the same venue in the evening. The PCB on Monday called off an upcoming ODI and Test against Bangladesh next month. It also suspnded its national one-day cup which was to begin from March 25 in Karachi.

According to Pakistan journalist Saj Sadiq, PCB confirmed that the decision to postpone the PSL was taken after 'a player, who had left Pakistan a few days ago, showed symptoms of COVID-19 and he will undergo screening shortly'. According to reports, PCB has made arrangements for all the players and support staff of the four semi-finalists, match officials, franchise owners and production crew to undergo precautionary tests. They have been advised against travelling before their reports are out.

(With agency reports)