PSL postponed after foreign player shows Covid-19 signs

Lahore, March 17

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The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been postponed with immediate effect after an overseas player showed symptoms of coronavirus. The postponement was announced hours before the semifinal matches were due to start here. “This decision was taken after a player, who had left Pakistan a few days ago, showed symptoms of Covid-19 and he will undergo screening shortly,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

Former Pakistan player and commentator Ramiz Raja said on Twitter that opening batsman Alex Hales had “self-quarantined himself” but the Englishman released a statement later saying he developed symptoms only after returning to the United Kingdom. “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,” Hales said. “However, I awoke early on Sunday morning having developed a fever and followed the government’s advice on 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,” he added. — Reuters

Richardson recalls scare: ‘I thought it was a joke’

Melbourne: Quarantined briefly for suspected Covid-19 before being found negative, Australian pacer Kane Richardson (in pic) says he thought it was all a joke at first. It all happened during the ODI series against New Zealand but he did not rejoin the squad as the series was called off considering the worsening Covid-19 situation. “I was at risk because I’d travelled overseas the previous two weeks and I had one of the four symptoms, so that was the reason I got tested,” the 29-year-old said. “I thought it was all a joke at the time but the team doctor was adamant it wasn’t,” he added. The fast bowler said he was not expecting a positive test result. “He (team doctor) spoke to various people on the phone to make sure he was doing the right thing and got the biggest swab I’ve ever seen out and stuck it into the back of my nose and the back of my mouth, so it wasn’t a pleasurable experience but that was the protocol so I was happy to go along with it…,” said Richardson. — PTI