Islamabad United suffered a big blow on Thursday with star English batsman Alex Hales leaving the team before Qualifier 2 of the current Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 because of personal reasons.
The experienced opener, who has been a key wheel in United’s batting unit all these years, announced his departure through an Instagram message, thanking the franchise and wishing them all the best for the rest of the season.
The departure of Hales is just one day prior to the pivotal Qualifier 2 encounter, when United would be facing the Eliminator’s winner between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium on May 23.
Though Hales played only two games in PSL 10, his influence was felt from Day One. The Englishman made his comeback in big style by cracking an 88 off 35 deliveries against Karachi Kings on May 19 — an innings marked by six boundaries and eight impressive sixes. His destructive batting at a mind-boggling strike rate of 251.42 supported United to clock the season’s highest total of 251 for five.
But fortunes suddenly turned in Qualifier 1 against Quetta Gladiators when Quetta dismissed Hales on the second ball for a duck. While chasing a target of 210, Islamabad United lost their momentum and collapsed for 179, missing their first chance to reach the final.
Islamabad United suffered their first loss in the knockout phase, which added more pressure on the team ahead of the must-win clash in Qualifier 2.
Hales’ unavailability is likely to challenge the depth of United’s batting, which now relies on the likes of Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, and Colin Munro to deliver in the high-pressure game.
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host Qualifier 2 under floodlights on Thursday, where the winning team will face Quetta Gladiators in the PSL 10 final.
