Haider Ali, a young and promising Pakistani cricket player, has responded to criticism about his performance in Vitality T20 Blast’s first match, in which he was out on the first ball. Despite the early dismissal, the 22-year-old Derbyshire Falcons batter remains positive and satisfied with his performance. Playing county cricket for the first time, Haider is hoping to perform better throughout the ongoing season.
The opening match of the Vitality Blast ended in disappointment for the Falcons as they lost by four wickets against Lancashire Lightning. Haider spoke to Geo News and said, “It’s not possible to score a century or a fifty every time you go out in the field to bat. This is part of the game but what I can do is to make a full effort to perform. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
This was only Haider’s second T20 game on English soil. He made his T20I debut for Pakistan in England back in 2020 at Old Trafford, Manchester, and scored a 50 in his first international match for the national team.
Haider is very excited to participate in the T20 Blast, which he finds to be a highly competitive tournament with some of the best and experienced players. As these matches are broadcast live on TV, he is keen to demonstrate his performance in the tournament. So far, he has played some decent innings in the county championship, including two fifty-plus scores, and is satisfied with his performance in first-class games.
Regarding the support he received from Derbyshire Falcons, Haider said, “The coaching staff and fellow players are fully supporting me. Batting consultant Ian Bell and coach Mickey Arthur are working hard with me and all the players. We’ve been given extensive practice sessions by them, and they are always backing us up. If we don’t perform well in a match, they urge us to keep our chins up and do better in the next game.”
Haider spoke about the other Pakistani cricketers playing in the county circuit and revealed that he has become friends with many of them. “So far, I got a chance to meet Shan Masood, who’s leading Yorkshire, and Hasan Ali, who’s with Birmingham Bears. They all have expressed encouragement and shown me their full support.”
Playing in the Vitality Blast will provide Haider with an opportunity to hone his skills and gain valuable experience to improve his game. He understands that fans have high expectations, but he is determined to play according to the team’s requirements and give his best in every game.
