Alex Hales withdraws from the Pakistan Super League citing Covid bubble fatigue

Alex Hales pulled out of the Pakistan Super League on Tuesday citing bubble fatigue, following Nottinghamshire team-mate Ben Duckett’s similar decision 24 hours earlier.

Hales, 33, was the highest scoring overseas player in the PSL at the time of his announcement, with 255 runs in seven matches, but will now spend a few weeks at home to recuperate.

Prior to arriving in Pakistan, where bubble regulations are tight following the Covid outbreak that curtailed last year’s competition, the ex-England star was part of another restrictive hotel-based environment with Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League.

Had he remained on the road – his team Islamabad United are well placed to contest for a place in the final on February 27 – it would have left little time off ahead of next month’s Indian Premier League. On Sunday, he picked up a £146,000 deal to join Kolkata Knight Riders.

‘To all the Islamabad and PSL fans, I am extremely sorry to have to leave the tournament early,’ Hales said.

‘Unfortunately, the last four months away from home in Covid bubbles has taken a considerable toll on me.’

On Monday, Duckett announced he had quit Quetta Gladiators and returned to the UK to prepare for a 2022 season in which Notts will once again be captained by Dan Christian, after the Australian signed on for a seventh year.

Hales, the leading overseas runscorer in the PSL, celebrates hitting a 50 against Peshawar