Coronavirus could end Hampshire skipper James Vince’s Pakistan Super League stint

James Vince reaches his half-century while playing for Multan Sultans against Peshawar in the Pakistan Super League in Karachi last month. Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images.

The Hampshire skipper has been playing for Multan Sultans and yesterday made 24 as Multan suffered their fourth loss in five games, to Quetta Gladiators.

England and Somerset batsman Tom Banton, who is representing Quetta, revealed on Wednesday that he was among the players to have tested positive.

The Pakistan Cricket Board plans to arrange repeat PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, vaccines and isolation facilities for all six teams.

‘Following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and wellbeing of all participants is paramount, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to postpone the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 with immediate effect,’ read a statement.

‘The decision was made after seven cases were reported in the competition.

‘The PCB, as an immediate step, will focus on the safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides.’

Alex Hales, Joe Denly and Ravi Bopara are among the other English players involved in the competition, which started on February 20.

The Pakistan Super League was paused last March when the pandemic started to take its stranglehold on sports fixtures across the globe - resuming last November.