The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended young cricketer Haider Ali after he was arrested by the Greater Manchester Police over an alleged complaint of rape.
Ali was arrested while he was on a tour of the United Kingdom with the country’s ‘A’ team — Pakistan Shaheens.
In a statement, as quoted by the media, the PCB said: “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,” the board said.
The Greater Manchester Police arrested him at the Beckenham ground, where Pakistan Shaheens were playing against MCSAC on August 3, Telecom Asia Sports reported.
“It’s apparently a rape case against a girl of Pakistani origin,” a source was quoted as saying in the report.
The police also seized Haider’s passport but released him on bail.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said it will cooperate with the probe and will give support to Haider to fight the case.
In the meantime, the PCB has suspended Haider Ali till his name is cleared.
“We were told about this case and investigation. We have suspended Haider until the investigation is completed and will conduct our own inquiry in the UK,” a PCB spokesman told www.telecomasia.net.
Pakistan Shaheens were on a tour of the UK from July 17 to August 6 and played two three-day games, which were both drawn, and a three-match One-day series that they won 2-1.
Most of the players, except captain Saud Shakeel and Haider, returned from the UK on Wednesday. Shakeel stayed back in Dubai for personal reasons.
