ZCZC
BSP-11
CRICKET-PAK-PSL-HEALTH-VIRUS,3RDLEAD
Pakistan Super League suspended as England star shows virus symptoms
ISLAMABAD, March 17, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan’s Twenty20 cricket league
was suspended Tuesday after English batsman Alex Hales developed suspected
coronavirus symptoms before the start of the semi-finals.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) announced last week that the playoffs
would be truncated with this week’s semi-finals and final in Lahore to be
played with no spectators to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The final had already been brought forward from Sunday to Wednesday.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Wasim Khan said officials
were forced to reconsider after a foreign player they wouldn’t identify
showed coronavirus symptoms.
Hours later, however, Hales confirmed on Twitter that he was the player in
question, saying he first started developing flu-like symptoms on Sunday
after returning to Britain.
“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.”
Hales was one of the top international players in the PSL, playing for the
Karachi Kings as a batsman.
The lofty 31-year-old has played 11 Tests, 70 one-dayers and 60 Twenty20
matches for England since making his international debut in 2011.
Other overseas players — including from England, Australia, New Zealand
and the West Indies — have been leaving the country en masse in recent days
as cases of coronavirus rise.
– Postponed –
The PCB’s Khan said officials were in the process of carrying out
“immediate tests of all those who were involved with the (PSL)”.
“The PCB hopes and prays that normalcy returns quickly to our society so
that everyone can return to a healthy and routine lifestyle and we can bring
back cricket to the fans”, Khan added.
The announcement comes a day after Pakistan said it had also postponed
Bangladesh’s upcoming tour because of the virus.
Pakistan has recorded at least 187 confirmed cases of the novel
coronavirus, but no deaths so far.
However, officials have tested only about 1,500 potential cases in the
country of 215 million people, where healthcare is frequently inadequate.
The month-long PSL began in February, with games held solely in the
cricket-mad country for the first time in its five-year history.
Previous editions were held wholly or partially in the United Arab
Emirates over security fears.
A deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus halted international
cricket tours to Pakistan, but visits are gradually resuming following an
improvement in security.
BSS/AFP/RY/1945 hrs