Control the cricketers before scandals control game

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This happened in 2005, when I went to Australia for the first time. One day, I went to a restaurant for lunch, and by coincidence, two Pakistani cricketers also arrived there. Back then, there wasn’t the kind of distance between players and the media that we see nowadays—relations were friendly. They both came and sat at my table.

During our conversation, a waitress came and said something about the order. As she was leaving, one cricketer said to the other, “If she were beautiful, you would have instantly befriended her.” 

Hearing this, the waitress returned and quietly whispered, “I’m from Bangladesh, and I understand Urdu.” 

The cricketer was so embarrassed he wished the ground would swallow him, and he got angry at his friend for making such a comment on his behalf. I liked that this player had such respect for women.

A few days later, however, the same cricketer got involved in a rape case in Australia, and only with great difficulty did he free himself from his “lady friend.” At that time, I was shocked—he seemed so decent; how could he end up in such a situation? Someone then told me, “Don’t judge people by the innocence of their face.”

In our country, most cricketers come from poor backgrounds. Suddenly, they start traveling business class, staying in five-star hotels, earning in dollars, and receiving public attention—so the chances of them going astray are high. 

A few years ago, when there weren’t as many restrictions, it was common for “certain women” to come and go from the players’ rooms. To avoid scandals, some even booked a second hotel room in the same place. Bookmakers took full advantage of this playboy behavior—many cricketers fell for “honey traps,” and videos were made to blackmail them.

You might remember Sharjeel Khan—shortly before he got entangled in a fixing case, he had mentioned in a statement that some of his videos had been used to blackmail him. Who knows how many other such stories never came to light? But we must give credit to Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam—during their time, the team environment in this regard improved. The PCB also became stricter in senior level.

Since the rise of social media, players have become more cautious, but then video chats and direct messages began to surface—though these carried less risk. Recently, the Cricket Board has been boasting about junior tours. The Shaheens team recently toured England, where they faced second-tier opponents—no matches were arranged against the England Lions. Even so, their wins were heavily celebrated.

But before the echoes of that celebration had faded, the scandal of Haider Ali’s arrest broke out. What could be more shameful than a player being arrested directly from the ground? It is an old PCB habit to hide such news, but if a journalist finds out and contacts them for confirmation, they immediately issue a press release. That’s probably what happened here. Haider has been released on bail but cannot leave the UK.

Now the question arises: why didn’t the PCB send a manager with this tour? The official press release didn’t mention anyone. Players are not children, but they still need guidance—to be reminded that on tours, they are ambassadors of the country and must be careful. None of this was done. There was no discipline; everyone did as they pleased.

Pakistani cricketers in England and Australia often befriend women. For many, the goal is to secure a foreign passport through marriage. Some have successfully used this formula, but those only passing time often end up in trouble when they fail to keep their “promise of marriage.” Perhaps this is what happened to Haider Ali. Sometimes there are even disputes over “rates.”

Now, influential people behind the scenes are likely trying to settle the matter, but if they fail, Haider could end up behind bars. He already had a history of such stories. Whatever the outcome, this has greatly tarnished the country’s image. The news went around the world: “Pakistani cricketer arrested in England in rape case.”

For the future, the PCB must adopt the strictest policy—just as the national team has a tough manager like Naveed Akram Cheema, the junior squads should also have a strong manager to keep a close eye on players and send them back for any breach of discipline.

Similarly, cricketers themselves must realize that one mistake can not only ruin their career but also disgrace their entire family. If not for themselves, they should at least think of their parents, siblings, and relatives. Nowadays, women working for bookies often pose as fans. On social media, people also try to befriend players under false identities. Once trapped, a player is blackmailed. Wouldn’t it be better not to get involved in such things at all?

Young cricketers should learn a lesson from Haider Ali—go abroad to play cricket, move around in groups with the team official’s permission, and never go alone to someone’s home on an invitation. Likewise, the Board must take strict measures to avoid future embarrassment—otherwise, be prepared for more such incidents.