Pakistani cricketer Haider Ali has been cleared of rape allegations after Greater Manchester Police formally closed the case, citing insufficient evidence to move forward, 24NewsHD TV reported on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old batter had been accused by a British-Pakistani woman of assaulting her at a Manchester hotel.
However, police have now dropped the investigation, allowing Ali to reclaim his passport and regain freedom to return to Pakistan or travel abroad.
According to the complainant, she first met Haider Ali on July 23 at a Manchester hotel and later encountered him again on August 1 in Ashford.
She filed a complaint on August 4, after which Ali was arrested at Kent’s Spitfire County Cricket Ground.
The cricketer was taken into custody for questioning but consistently denied the allegations, insisting the pair were friends and that the claims came as a shock.
Ali’s case was represented by barrister Moeen Khan, a criminal law specialist.
Following a joint review by Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), authorities concluded there was not enough evidence to pursue charges.
During the investigation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) provisionally suspended Ali from cricketing duties.
Ali, who made his international debut in 2020, has so far represented Pakistan in 35 T20 internationals and two one-day internationals.
With the case now closed, his return to competitive cricket will depend on the PCB’s review of his suspension and clearance to rejoin the national setup.