Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has backed young batter Haider Ali, calling him a potential match-winner who deserves grooming similar to India's rising stars Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The 23-year-old Ali has already impressed in limited-overs cricket for Pakistan, showcasing his power-hitting ability. He was also backed as the solution to Pakistan's T20 powerplay woes. Latif believes that with proper nurturing, Ali could have become a mainstay for the men in green. However, as dramatic as Haider Ali's rise was, his fall has been even more startling.
Haider has averaged 17.25 with the bat in the 54 T20 games he has played in the last two years. However, his six-hitting abilities showed signs of revival in the last edition of the PSL.
Latif's endorsement comes at a time when there is a pressing need for a stable opening pair in Pakistan's T20 line-up. While the team has some seasoned options, the establishment of a sustainable solution is still pending.
"Haider Ali was not an ordinary player, there is only one player like that in a year and in 2018 it was Haider Ali. He scored runs with an average of 50 plus in his first First-Class season, then again scored runs in the second season," said Latif.
"Next year, he came to Zalmi in PSL, he was amazing. He should have made his debut in Test cricket in 2020 when we went to England. PCB should have groomed like Gill and Jaiswal. You discard players very quickly. The problem is from management's side and not the players," Latif explained.
By promptly investing in Haider Ali's development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could potentially unearth a rare talent. With the right support, Haider Ali has the capacity to become a vital component in Pakistan's batting lineup, much like the young Indian openers who are already making a mark on the global stage.