The Curious Case of Haider Ali | What Happened to Pakistan’s ‘Next Babar Azam’?

Grab your coffee, pull up a chair. Let’s talk about something that fascinates and frustrates cricket fans in equal measure: explosive talent that flickers, fades, and leaves us all asking, “What happened?” Today, our subject is the pakistani cricketer Haider Ali .

Remember the name? If you follow cricket with any seriousness, you absolutely do. For a brief, brilliant period, Haider Ali wasn’t just another player; he was the answer. He was the next big thing, the heir apparent, the one anointed to share the massive burden of Pakistan’s batting with the peerless Babar Azam. He had the swagger, the style, and a cover drive that made purists weep with joy.

And then… silence. Not complete silence, but the buzz quieted. He drifted from the national team, his name mentioned more in passing than with promise.

So, what gives? This isn’t just a story about a dip in form. It’s a fascinating look into the brutal world of international cricket, the crushing weight of expectation, and a scary, life-altering event that puts a game of bat and ball into perspective. Let’s untangle the story of Haider Ali.

The Explosive Arrival | A Debut for the Ages

Let’s rewind to September 1, 2020. Old Trafford, Manchester. Pakistan is playing England in a T20I. A 19-year-old kid from Attock, Punjab, walks out to bat on his international debut. The kid’s name is Haider Ali . There’s a nervous energy, as there always is with a debutant.

What happens next is pure cinema. He smacks his second ball, off Tom Curran, for a massive six over mid-wicket. The confidence, the clean swing, the sheer audacity of it all was breathtaking. He went on to score a 33-ball 54, becoming the first-ever Pakistani to score a half-century on his T20I debut.

The world took notice. Pundits, former players, and fans especially here in India, where we keep a close eye on our neighbours’ talent pool were all in agreement. This guy was special. The comparisons to Babar Azam weren’t just lazy journalism; you could see it. The wristy elegance, the ability to find gaps, and that fearless approach. He wasn’t a copy, but he felt like he was cut from the same cloth. The haider ali debut was, without a doubt, one for the history books.

It felt like the Pakistan cricket team had unearthed a gem, a player who could dominate for the next decade. The start was perfect. But cricket, as we know, is rarely a fairytale.

The “Why” Behind the Slump | More Than Just Bad Form?

Here’s the thing about raw, untamed talent: it can be a double-edged sword. Haider Ali’s greatest strength his aggressive, fearless intent also became his most glaring weakness. So, why did the runs dry up? It’s not one single thing, but a cocktail of issues.

Let’s break it down:

• The Shot Selection Dilemma: There’s a fine line between confidence and recklessness. Haider often seemed to exist on the wrong side of it. He’d play a couple of sublime, jaw-dropping strokes and then get out to a rash shot, leaving everyone frustrated. The maturity to build an innings, to respect a good spell of bowling, seemed to be missing. It’s one thing to hit a six on your second ball on debut; it’s another to try and do it every time you bat.
• The Crushing Weight of “The Next Big Thing”: Let’s be honest, the “next Babar Azam” tag is a heavy crown to wear. In a country as passionate about cricket as Pakistan, the pressure is immense. Every failure is magnified, every success is expected. For a young player still finding his feet, that level of scrutiny can be suffocating. Sometimes, we anoint players too quickly, forgetting they are still learning their craft.
• Inconsistency and The Numbers Game: If you look at the haider ali stats on a site like ESPNCricinfo, a pattern emerges. Flashes of brilliance interspersed with long patches of low scores. Selectors can only gamble on potential for so long. Eventually, consistent performance becomes non-negotiable, and Haider struggled to string together a run of good scores, leading to him being shuffled in and out of the team.

You have to wonder about the player management, too. Was he given a consistent role and batting position? Or was he plugged into gaps as a temporary fix? These are questions the PCB has faced before, and Haider Ali’s case brings them to the forefront once again. For a deeper dive into complex characters, you might find the story of Daya Nayak an interesting parallel in a different field. See the story here: Untangling Daya Nayak .

A Frightening Health Scare | When Cricket Takes a Backseat

Just as he was trying to fight his way back through domestic cricket, life threw Haider a terrifying curveball. In late 2023, while playing in Pakistan’s premier domestic tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he fell seriously ill.

This wasn’t a minor niggle or a flu. The haider ali illness was a severe viral infection that landed him in the ICU. Reports from Pakistan media described a harrowing situation where the young cricketer was battling a serious condition, with his future in the sport suddenly the last thing on anyone’s mind. His health was the only priority.

It’s a stark reminder that these athletes we watch on TV are human beings first. A health crisis like that changes your perspective on everything. The pressure of scoring runs pales in comparison to the fight for your health. Thankfully, he recovered. But an experience like that leaves a mark, and it can either break you or forge you into something stronger.

Can Haider Ali Script a Comeback?

So, where does that leave our protagonist? The good news is that Haider Ali is back on the field. He has played in various T20 leagues and even had a stint in English county cricket with Derbyshire. He’s still only 23 years old. Let that sink in. He has a vast expanse of career ahead of him if he can put the pieces back together.

But the path back to the national team is steep. The competition in Pakistan cricket is fierce. Young guns like Saim Ayub have burst onto the scene with a similar brand of fearless cricket, and have shown a bit more consistency.

For Haider, the comeback isn’t just about scoring runs. It’s about showing that he has matured. He needs to demonstrate better game awareness, turn those flashy 20s and 30s into match-winning 70s and 80s, and prove that he can be a reliable pillar in the batting lineup, not just a firework. It’s about a man who has not only faced down fast bowlers but also faced his own mortality. It’s a journey of a different kind, much like the one detailed in the life of Veerendra Heggade , a story of dedication and impact. You can read about it here: Veerendra Heggade Story Explained .

The talent is still there. That beautiful, elegant, powerful stroke-making hasn’t vanished. The question is whether he can now fuse it with the wisdom and resilience he has gained through his struggles, both on and off the field. I, for one, am rooting for him. Cricket is a better, more exciting sport when players like Haider Ali are at their best. His story is far from over; perhaps the most important chapter is just beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What exactly happened to Pakistani cricketer Haider Ali?

Haider Ali experienced a significant dip in form and consistency after a brilliant international debut. This led to him being dropped from the Pakistan national team. He also suffered a serious viral illness in late 2023 that required hospitalization, but he has since recovered and returned to playing professional cricket.

Why was he dropped from the Pakistan team?

He was dropped primarily due to a lack of consistent performances. While he showed flashes of brilliance, he struggled to build long innings and often got out to high-risk shots. The intense competition for places in the Pakistan cricket team meant his inconsistent form could no longer be overlooked.

What illness did Haider Ali have?

Haider Ali contracted a serious viral infection while playing domestic cricket in Pakistan in October 2023. The illness was severe enough to land him in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a local hospital, but he made a full recovery.

Is Haider Ali related to Babar Azam?

No, they are not related. The comparisons between them are purely based on their similar elegant and wristy batting styles and the high expectations placed on Haider Ali as a young talent, much like Babar before him.

Where is Haider Ali playing now?

Currently, the haider ali cricketer career continues in domestic and franchise cricket. He plays for various teams in Pakistan’s domestic structure and has participated in T20 leagues around the world, including a recent stint with Derbyshire in English county cricket, as he works to earn a recall to the national side.