‘Made zero sense to me’: Alex Hales on England cancelling Pakistan tour

England’s opening batter Alex Hales has criticised the English Cricket Board for cancelling their scheduled tour to Pakistan last year, saying that the cancellation made zero sense to him.

Hales, who last represented England in 2019, is currently playing for Islamabad United in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He said that Pakistan helped England in challenging times during the pandemic but the ECB did not reciprocate.

“Pakistan came to England during Covid, helped out the ECB massively, so for them to cancel that tour made absolutely zero sense to me whatsoever,” he said.

Hales, who has toured the country numerous times, said ‘it’s a great place to come and play cricket’, and also lauded the hospitality and passion of the people.

“I have been here four or five times now and get looked after really well,” he said.

“Every time we come here, the people are very hospitable and the cricket is always really good. The fans here are crazy for it. So it’s a great place to come and play cricket,” he added.

It is should be noted that both England’s men’s and women’s sides were set to play two T20Is, with the latter staying on for three ODIs in September 2021.

The ECB cited protecting ‘the mental and physical well-being’ of its players and staff as well as “increasing concerns about travelling to the region” as reasons for opting out in a statement explaining the cancellation.

Earlier, it was announced that England will play two additional Twenty20s during their tour to Pakistan this year. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Tom Harrison promised in his tour to Pakistan.