Alex Hales self-isolating after developing fever and dry cough following Pakistan Super League stint

The Nottinghamshire batsman started showing the symptoms after his return to the UK from a stint with the Karachi Kings franchise in the now-suspended league

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England batsman Alex Hales has confirmed he is self-isolating after developing a fever and cough since his return to the UK from the Pakistan Super League over the weekend.

Hales had been in Pakistan with the Karachi Kings franchise before becoming one of 14 overseas players to withdraw from the tournament on Friday amid cricket's escalating response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The T20 tournament has since been suspended indefinitely after an announcement earlier today that an unnamed player had displayed symptoms of the virus upon returning home from their stint.

In a statement, Hales confirmed that he had developed symptoms since arriving back in England, though he added that he has not yet been tested.

"Like many other overseas players, I reluctantly left the PSL early because, with COVID-19 reaching global pandemic status, I felt it was more important to be with my family rather than face a period of lockdown thousands of miles from home," he wrote in a statement.

"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.

"However, I awoke early on Sunday morning having developed a fever and followed the government's advice of 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 so that I can get absolute confirmation of my current health status."