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MANCHESTER: Pakistan cricketer Haider Ali has been cleared of rape allegations in the United Kingdom (UK) after Greater Manchester Police dropped the case, citing a lack of evidence.
Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) sources confirmed on Wednesday that the investigation has been closed, with insufficient material to support the claims made by a British-Pakistani woman.
The 24-year-old batter, who was represented by barrister Moeen Khan, is now free to leave the UK and has collected his passport from the police.
Ali had been arrested on August 4 while touring with Pakistan Shaheens. He was taken into custody from the players’ canteen at the Spitfire County Cricket Ground in Kent and later interviewed at Canterbury Police Station.
The woman alleged the incident took place at a Manchester hotel on July 23 and claimed they met again in Ashford on August 1, before filing her complaint four days later.
During questioning, Ali denied the allegation, stating that he knew the woman personally and that the accusation came as a shock to him.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had provisionally suspended him while the investigation was ongoing.
Notably, the 24-year-old has represented Pakistan in two ODIs and 35 T20Is since making his international debut in 2020. His last appearance for the Green Shirts was in 2023 against Afghanistan during the Asian Games.
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