Pakistan cricket has been hit by controversy after 24-year-old cricketer Haider Ali was arrested in England over an alleged rape incident during the Pakistan Shaheens’ UK tour. The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed a report of rape was filed regarding an incident on July 23, 2025, at a location in Manchester.
“A 24-year-old man has been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries,” GMP said in a statement, without naming the suspect — a standard practice in the UK at this stage of investigation.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has since provisionally suspended Haider Ali, stating, “We will conduct our own inquiry in the UK and cooperate fully with the ongoing legal process while providing Haider legal support.”
Haider, part of the Pakistan ‘A’ team (Shaheens), was in England for a tour from July 17 to August 6, which included two three-day matches and a 2–1 win in a one-day series.
The incident is particularly striking as Haider had made his international debut in Manchester back in September 2020, during a T20I match against England.
A promising batter, Haider has played 2 ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 505 T20I runs, and averaging over 47 in first-class cricket. However, his career has seen turbulence before — including a suspension for violating Covid-19 protocols during the 2021 PSL.
His last appearance for Pakistan was at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The case echoes past scandals in Pakistan cricket, notably the 2010 spot-fixing case, raising concerns about disciplinary lapses within the national setup.
The PCB emphasized its zero-tolerance approach to misconduct, but also underscored the importance of due process as the legal proceedings continue.