Haider Ali Arrested in Manchester; Passport Seized Amid Rape Allegation

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provisionally suspended cricketer Haider Ali after he was arrested by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in connection with an alleged rape. The 24-year-old batter, who was touring England with the Pakistan Shaheens, was taken into custody on August 4, 2025, following a report of an incident said to have occurred on July 23 at a premises in Manchester.

According to GMP, a report was received on August 4 alleging rape. Police confirmed that a 24-year-old man was arrested, questioned, and later released on bail pending further inquiries. In a statement, GMP said:

“A report of a rape was made to police on Monday, 4 August 2025. It’s alleged that the incident occurred on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, at a premises in Manchester. We have arrested a 24-year-old man. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.”

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British police typically do not name suspects at this stage of an investigation. However, multiple sources, including Reuters and Dawn, identified the man as Haider Ali.

Haider was in England as part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad, which toured from July 17 to August 6 for two three-day matches and three one-day internationals. The tour concluded with a 2–1 ODI series win.

According to sources quoted by Telecom Asia Sports, Haider Ali was arrested on August 3 at the Beckenham ground, where the team was playing against MCSAC. His passport was reportedly seized by UK authorities.

Most Shaheens players returned to Pakistan on August 6, except for captain Saud Shakeel, who stayed in Dubai for personal reasons, and Haider, who remained in the UK due to the investigation.

The PCB issued a statement confirming it had been informed of the matter by GMP and was cooperating with the investigation:

“In line with its duty of care and responsibility to ensure the welfare and legal rights of all its players, the PCB has ensured that Haider Ali has received appropriate legal support to protect his rights throughout this process. The PCB fully respects the legal procedures and processes of the United Kingdom and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course. Accordingly, the PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.”

Haider Ali made his international debut in 2020 and has since played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan, his last appearance coming at the Asian Games two years ago. He was part of Pakistan’s squad at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, which also featured India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal.

In 2021, Haider was suspended by the PCB for breaching COVID-19 protocols during the Pakistan Super League in Abu Dhabi and was withdrawn from tours of England and the West Indies. The incident adds to a history of disciplinary and legal controversies involving Pakistan cricketers. In 2010, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Asif were arrested during the team’s tour of England for spot-fixing, later serving jail terms and five-year bans from cricket.

The case comes just weeks before Pakistan’s scheduled Asia Cup 2025 clash against India on September 14 in Dubai. As of now, Haider Ali has not made any public statement on the allegations. The investigation by Greater Manchester Police remains ongoing. [Rh/Eth/VP]

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