PCB lifts suspension on Haider Ali after rape allegation clearance
What's the story
The Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) has lifted the provisional suspension on cricketer Haider Ali. The decision comes after an investigation in the United Kingdom concluded with insufficient evidence to proceed with charges against him. The 24-year-old player can now return to competitive cricket and participate in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Case details
Haider's suspension and subsequent investigation
Ali was suspended in August 2025 after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) arrested him over a rape complaint by a Pakistani woman living in the UK. The alleged incident took place on July 23 at a hotel in Manchester during Pakistan 'A' team's tour. The PCB suspended him provisionally, pending the outcome of the UK criminal investigation.
Case resolution
Lack of evidence leads to case closure
On September 4, 2025, GMP announced that there was insufficient evidence to file charges against Ali. The case was subsequently closed and the cricketer was released from bail with his passport returned. Following this legal clearance, PCB reinstated him along with eight other Pakistani players by issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for their participation in the upcoming BPL season.
Career revival
Haider Ali's return to competitive cricket
In the upcoming BPL season, Ali will play for Noakhali Express with fellow Pakistani pacer Ihsanullah Khan. The team also features international players such as Soumya Sarkar, Kusal Mendis, Johnson Charles, and Jaker Ali Anik. Ali's return is seen as a major opportunity for both his career revival and franchise teams looking to leverage his aggressive batting skills.
Career highlights
Who is Haider Ali?
Born on October 2, 2000, in Attock, Punjab, Ali is a right-handed middle-order batsman known for his aggressive stroke play. He made his T20I debut for Pakistan in September 2020 against England and was included in the ODI setup shortly after during a series against Zimbabwe. In T20Is, he has played 35 matches for Pakistan, scoring over 500 runs with a top score of 68 and three fifties to his name. He has also featured in two ODIs.