Pakistani cricketer Haider Ali, once considered one of the country’s brightest cricketing prospects, has been arrested in England over alleged rape charges.
Greater Manchester Police took the 24-year-old batsman into custody in connection with an incident that reportedly occurred on July 23 during the Pakistan A (Shaheens) team’s tour of England.
Following the arrest, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) provisionally suspended Ali, stating it is aware of the ongoing investigation and confirming that the alleged offence took place during the team’s recent tour. The PCB assured that legal assistance and representation will be provided to him during the case.
Born on October 2, 2000, in Attock, Punjab, Ali is a right-handed middle-order batsman renowned for his aggressive style. He made his T20I debut in September 2020 against England, later joining Pakistan’s ODI squad for the Zimbabwe series.
Over his career, Ali has played 35 T20Is, scoring over 500 runs with a top score of 68, including three half-centuries. He has represented several franchises, including Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings, and Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, and featured in overseas leagues such as ILT20, CPL, and BPL. He was also part of Pakistan’s squad that finished runners-up in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup.
This is not the first controversy in his career — in 2021, Ali faced disciplinary action for breaching the bio-secure bubble during the Pakistan Super League but returned later as vice-captain of the Pakistan Shaheens.
Despite his achievements, Ali’s cricketing future now hangs in the balance as he faces these serious allegations.
