Haider Ali: Pakistan Cricketer Held in England Following Rape Allegation Amid Shaheens Tour
Haider Ali: Pakistan Cricketer Held in England Following Rape Allegation Amid Shaheens Tour
Pakistan cricket finds itself in troubled waters once again, this time involving 24-year-old batter Haider Ali, who has been arrested in the United Kingdom in connection with an alleged rape incident. Haider, currently representing the Pakistan Shaheens—the country’s ‘A’ team—on their England tour, has now been provisionally suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as investigations proceed.
According to a statement from Greater Manchester Police, the alleged incident took place on the evening of Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at a location in Manchester. Authorities confirmed that a 24-year-old man was taken into custody following a report of rape and that the individual has been released on bail while inquiries continue. In line with British legal procedures, the suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed by the police; however, sources have confirmed the individual is Haider Ali.
The PCB responded swiftly to the development, issuing a statement that read: “We have provisionally suspended Haider pending the outcome of the investigation and will initiate our own review while in the UK.” The board further stated that it intends to fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies and ensure the player receives legal assistance during the proceedings.
This isn’t the first time Haider Ali’s career has been marred by off-field controversies. Once touted as one of Pakistan’s most promising young talents, Haider’s journey in international cricket has been a mixture of flashes of brilliance and disciplinary concerns. He first made his debut for Pakistan in a T20I against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, on September 1, 2020—ironically, the same city now at the center of his current legal trouble.
Haider has represented Pakistan in 2 ODIs and 35 T20Is, accumulating 505 runs in the shortest format, including three half-centuries. His domestic performance in red-ball cricket has been more consistent, with a first-class batting average exceeding 47 and 1,797 runs in 27 matches. Despite his red-ball prowess, he is yet to feature in the national Test side.
His last appearance for Pakistan came during the Asian Games in Hangzhou on October 6, 2023, in a match against Afghanistan. Since then, he has largely remained on the fringes of the national setup. Notably, his early career had already hit a rough patch when he was suspended during the 2021 Pakistan Super League for violating COVID-19 safety protocols.
The Shaheens’ current tour of the UK, which spans July 17 to August 6, included two drawn three-day matches and a 2-1 victory in the one-day series. But what was meant to be a showcase of developing talent has now been overshadowed by this serious allegation.
This incident has also brought back memories of Pakistan’s darkest cricketing scandal—the 2010 spot-fixing case involving Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Asif—when the trio was convicted and imprisoned in the UK, tarnishing the nation’s cricketing image on the global stage. Once again, questions are being raised about discipline and player conduct off the field.
As the legal process unfolds in England, Haider Ali’s future hangs in the balance—both as a professional cricketer and as a public figure. The PCB has emphasized due process, but the impact on Pakistan cricket’s reputation is already evident.
