PCB suspends Haider Ali over criminal investigation in UK

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provisionally suspended cricketer Haider Ali following an ongoing investigation by Manchester Police, according to an official statement released on Thursday.

The PCB confirmed that Haider Ali will remain under “provisional suspension” until the investigation is concluded.

The board acknowledged that it has been made aware of a criminal investigation currently being conducted by Greater Manchester Police involving cricketer Haider Ali.

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However, it did not disclose the charges against the Pakistani batter, except to mention that “the investigation pertains to an incident that reportedly occurred during the Pakistan Shaheens’ recent tour of England.”

Haider Ali, a 23-year-old right-handed batter from Attock, made his first-class debut in September 2019 and earned his international cap for Pakistan on 1 September 2020. Touted as one of the country’s promising cricketing talents, Haider has represented Pakistan in all three formats at various levels.

Lahore, 7 August 2025:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been made aware of a criminal investigation currently being conducted by the Greater Manchester Police involving cricketer Haider Ali. The investigation pertains to an incident that reportedly occurred during the…

— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) August 7, 2025

The board made it clear that Haider Ali will remain provisionally suspended from all cricketing activities. “The PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.”

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Regarding the future of Haider Ali, the board said: “Once the legal proceedings are concluded and all facts have been duly established, the PCB reserves the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary.”

PCB’s legal support to Haider Ali and non-partisan

The board also assured that it would extend legal support to the cricketer, stating: “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 reiterated its respect for UK legal processes and said it “fully respects the legal procedures and processes of the United Kingdom and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course.”

“Until such time as the legal process reaches its conclusion, the PCB will not offer further comment on the matter,” the PCB added.

Haider Ali sees Rohit Sharma as role model

After breaking into Pakistan’s 29-member squad for the England tour in June 2020, Haider Ali had told reporters that that Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma is his role model, praising the Indian opener’s ability to launch explosive starts for his team across all formats.

Rohit Sharma is Haider Ali's idol 🙌

The 19-year-old, currently in the Pakistan squad for the England tour, dreams of scoring big hundreds like him 😮https://t.co/7AW6P5TwtC pic.twitter.com/WlLpPsONpF

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 18, 2020

The young cricketer said, “Rohit Sharma is my role model because of the way he gives his team a strong start. It’s really impressive. Whether it’s a Test, ODI or T20, he arrives with intent and takes on the bowlers. I want to provide the same kind of start for Pakistan.”

Haider, known for his stylish off-side play, compact defence, and elegant pull shots, has often drawn comparisons with Sharma for his calm presence at the crease and shot selection.

He also impressed during the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, where he scored a half-century against India in the semi-final — a match Pakistan eventually lost.