Alex Hales Declines Blast, Hundred For MLC, CPL Deal With Knight Riders

Alex Hales’ deal with Knight Riders franchises in Major League Cricket (MLC) and Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will mean he will skip Blast and The Hundred. Hales hasn’t missed a single edition of The Hundred, representing Trent Rockets, for whom he has scored 736 runs, striking at 138.34. 

Hales has also been a regular for Nottinghamshire since 2008 but will not turn up for the club this time around after opting not to sign a contract. The opener missed six of Nottinghamshire’s games last year due to his commitment to Lanka Premier League (LPL). 

"The last 17 years playing at Trent Bridge for Notts have been an absolute pleasure, and it remains my favourite place in the world to play cricket," Hales said in a statement. "Some of my best memories have come in a Notts shirt, and some of my closest friendships in the game have been made in that home dressing room.

"Having spent more and more time playing around the world in recent years, heading back to Trent Bridge has always been something I've looked forward to. But given the current landscape of the global game as well as having recently moved abroad, unfortunately I won't be able to return this season… Hopefully I will be able to return at some point in the future."

Increased scrutiny over NOC (No Objection Certificate) has meant that Hales can’t be at both places this time around. According to ESPNCricinfo, there’s a strong possibility that the former English opener could feature in LPL between MLC and CPL. 

Co-incidentally, Hales will become the second English opener to forego a contract to play in franchise cricket after Jason Roy, the man who replaced him in England.