NEWS
Follow UsEngland batter Alex Hales says his board's decision to pull out of the Pakistan tour last year did not make any sense to him. Hales wo is into his fifth season in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is currently playing for Islamabad United but has previously won the league with Karachi Kings previously.
"That decision to cancel that tour made absolutely no sense," Hales told Geo TV.
"Especially after Pakistan came to England during COVID and helped out the ECB massively. So for them to cancel that tour made absolutely zero sense to me."
"It was only a short tour, only a few T20s so it made no sense."
During his visits to Pakistan, Haes says that the people have been extremely hospitable and the cricket has been good. "I've been here four or five times now and get looked after really well," Hales said.
"Every time we come here, the people are very hospitable and cricket is always really good. The fans here are crazy for it. So, it's a great place to come and play cricket, I absolutely feel safe."
The ECB and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have since rescheduled that tour and England are now slated to visit Pakistan twice later this year. They are first scheduled to arrive in September for a seven-match T20I series, in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in Australia, following which they will visit again for a three-Test series in November-December.
Hales is not a certainty in the England T20 squad for that tour but he is content at the moment, saying his stats are up there with the best in the world. "I'm just enjoying my cricket a lot more now," he said.
"I'm into my 30s now so I guess I've matured over the last few years away from the game. I feel like I'm playing the best standard of cricket I (have) played in my life and hopefully, I can keep up for the next few years.
"I think my stats are right up there with the best in the world. So, you know, hopefully, that chance comes around again."
(With inputs from PTI)
