Pakistan batter Haider Ali has opened up about his exclusion from the national squad for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand.
In a recent interview, the 24-year-old batter confirmed that a hand injury ruled him out of selection while revealing that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors had already communicated this to him.
“Due to a hand injury, I am not part of the squad for the New Zealand tour. The selectors had a discussion with me regarding this,” Haider said.
His omission came as a surprise to many, especially considering the young squad Pakistan has assembled for the series, with Salman Ali Agha leading the side as captain and Shadab Khan as his deputy.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Interestingly, Haider Ali was recently part of the PCB’s Strike Force Camp, a 90-day program focused on power-hitting under the supervision of former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
The initiative is part of the PCB’s long-term plan to strengthen Pakistan’s T20 setup by grooming young players and addressing key performance areas.
It’s worth noting that Haider has represented Pakistan in 35 T20Is, accumulating 505 runs at an average of 17.41 and a strike rate of 124.69, including three half-centuries.
His last appearance in the shortest format for Pakistan came against Afghanistan in 2023.
READ: No Pakistani cricketers picked in The Hundred 2025 draft