LONDON; A British-Pakistani woman who has accused Pakistani cricketer Haider Ali of rape remained in contact with him for nearly two weeks after their first meeting, including a lunch date in Ashford, Kent, just a week after the alleged incident.
Murtaza Ali Shah, UK correspondent for The News and GEO in his report quoting sources revealed, “the woman, in her mid-20s, first met the right-handed batsman at a Manchester hotel on July 23. She lodged a rape complaint with Manchester Police on August 4 — almost two weeks later.
Between those dates, she travelled independently from Manchester to Ashford on August 1 to meet Ali for lunch and a walk, a round trip of about eight hours by train.” “Witnesses told me they saw the pair chatting normally, sharing laughter during their meal, and walking together towards the train station without any visible tension,”.
Sources added that phone records seized by Manchester Police indicate the pair maintained routine communication during the two weeks after their first meeting, with no mention of concerns or allegations until three days after the Ashford encounter. They also noted that the woman had initially contacted the cricketer through social media in 2023, describing herself as a fan.
The 24-year-old, who has represented Pakistan in 35 T20 internationals and two ODIs since 2020, was arrested on August 5 at the Spitfire County Cricket Ground in Kent, taken to Canterbury Police Station, and held for nearly 48 hours. He strongly denied the allegation in a written statement and was released on bail the evening of August 7 pending further inquiries. His phone was returned upon release.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the arrest, stating: “It’s alleged that the incident occurred on Wednesday, 23 July, 2025, at a premises in Manchester. The man has since been bailed pending further enquiries. The victim is being supported by officers.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board has provisionally suspended Haider Ali for the duration of the criminal investigation, emphasising its respect for UK legal processes and reserving the right to take further action once the case concludes.
