According to reports, Pakistani cricketer Haider Ali was arrested by Greater Manchester Police in relation to a rape case while the Pakistan A squad was on tour in the UK, and he has now been placed on provisional suspension.
The 24-year-old batsman was taken into custody on August 3 in Canterbury—where the Pakistan Shaheens were playing against MCSAC—following a rape complaint involving a woman of Pakistani origin. The alleged incident is said to have occurred on July 23 at a property in Manchester.
Who is Haider Ali
Before his career took a drastic turn, Haider Ali, a native of Attock, joined Pakistan’s A-side, made his domestic cricket debut by registering fifties in his T20I debut, and scored a double century in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Notable performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have also helped him establish his reputation.
What are the charges on Pakistan cricketer Haider Ali
Grand Manchester Police confirmed the arrest in a statement provided to Reuters, saying, “After receiving a report on Monday, August 4, 2025, of a rape, we have arrested a 24-year-old man. The man had since been bailed pending further investigations. The victim is being supported by the officers.”
According to sources who spoke to IANS, Haider was “in tears” when he was taken into custody and refuted the accusation during the preliminary investigation. The authorities have confiscated his passport.
Pakistan Cricket Board statement
The batsman has been suspended with immediate effect by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has stated that it intends to permit the legal proceedings to be conducted in the United Kingdom. “The PCB fully respects the legal procedures and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course,” the board mentioned in a statement. “Once the legal procedures are completed and all facts are established, the PCB reserves the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct.”
After making his debut in 2020, Haider, who was formerly regarded as a bright player, has played in 35 Twenty20 Internationals and two One-Day Internationals for Pakistan. Prior disciplinary concerns, including his ban in 2021 for breaking COVID-19 regulations during the Pakistan Super League, have, nevertheless, marred his career.
Prior to this event, Haider was reportedly being considered for a return to the national team under recently hired white-ball coach Mike Hesson for an impending T20 tri-series in Sharjah.
