"Boss, I Have Symptoms Of COVID-19": How Alex Hales' Message Led To PSL Cancellation

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 was heading towards its business end amid the novel coronavirus scare. But an unceremonious message from England batsman Alex Hales, who was plying his trade for Karachi Kings, led to the cancellation of PSL 2020. In the Doosra podcast for bbc.com, Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal narrated the story which decided the fate of PSL 2020.

The PSL 2020  had three matches to play, when it was called-off, with a lot of players showing concerns about leaving the tournament due to the coronavirus scare. But it was this sensational Alex Hales story, which finalised the fate of it.

Boss, I have symptoms of Covid-19: Alex Hales to Salman Iqbal at 2am

Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal recalled the ‘panic’ moment after receiving the text message from Alex Hales at 2am. Hales texted Iqbal, that he has developed symptoms of coronavirus, and suggested everyone to get tested. A call from Karachi Kings coach Dean Jones then followed, calling for an emergency meeting.

Iqbal subsequently tried to arrange doctors to get Hales tested in Birmigham but it could not happen. It led to every member of the team getting tested and being firmly put into self-isolation. The decision to call-off the PSL 2020 was also taken the next day.

Iqbal said: “It was two o’clock in the morning in Pakistan and we had a message from Alex Hales saying: ‘Boss, I have symptoms of Covid-19 and I think you should all get tested.’

“I then got a call from coach Dean Jones saying he wanted to meet straight away.

“We were all scared. If you have the symptoms, you have to be isolated. I was trying hard to get somebody to Birmingham to get Hales tested.

“I even asked if my doctor from London would go to him but it couldn’t happen.

“In the end, we had to get everyone in the team tested. All of them started panicking and we postponed the tournament the next day,” Iqbal said. 

Some media reports had earlier suggested that Alex Hales has been tested positive with novel coronavirus. However, the England batsman, had took to twitter and slammed media asking them not to circulate baseless message.