Pakistan batter Haider Ali arrested in Manchester following rape allegation, PCB suspends star pending investigation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that young batter Haider Ali is under criminal investigation in England, while the Greater Manchester Police said an official arrest of the 24-year-old was made following a rape allegation.

While the PCB did not specify the exact nature of the arrest, the board has provisionally suspended Ali for the duration of the criminal investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred during the Pakistan Shaheens’ tour of England.

“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,” the PCB said in a statement.

Story continues below this ad

“Accordingly, the PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

“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.”

The right-handed batter featured in six matches between July 22 and August 3, scoring 159 runs.

Greater Manchester Police told The Associated Press that on Monday, they received a report of a rape and that “we have arrested a 24-year-old man.”

Story continues below this ad

“It’s alleged that the incident occurred on Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at a premises in Manchester,” the police statement added. “The man has since been bailed pending further enquiries.”

Ali has represented Pakistan in 35 Twenty20 Internationals since making his debut in 2020, as well as two One-Day Internationals, and was widely considered one of the brightest batting prospects to emerge from the country this decade.

Ali played in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup for Pakistan, a tournament that also featured India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal. Haider was also suspended by the PCB for breaking COVID-19 rules during the 2021 Pakistan Super League in Abu Dhabi, which led to him being removed from the team for the tours of England and the West Indies that same year.

Click here to read article