UAE star Haider Ali's journey from fruit seller to match-winner

The left-arm spinner's 3-7 against Bangladesh played a big role in series win

- SHARJAH BY A.K.S. SATISH Sport Editor

Before the bright lights of Sharjah and the roar of an international crowd, Haider Ali's world looked very different.

During the pandemic, the young left-arm spinner sold fruit on the streets of Lahore to support his family — not just to survive, but to keep alive a dream he wasn't ready to give up on.

On Wednesday night, that dream bore fruit. The 30-year-old produced a stunning spell of three wickets for just seven runs, leading UAE to a historic seven-wicket win over Bangladesh at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. It wasn't just UAE's first-ever T20I series victory against a Test-playing nation — it was also a personal triumph for a cricketer who had fought for every inch of this moment.

"I was jobless during Covid," Haider told Gulf News. "My father had a fruit business, so I would sit with him and help out. I had no other way to earn. I just kept telling myself, don't give up."

Haider moved to the UAE in 2021 in search of better opportunities. Even then, cricket felt distant. With no clear path to the national team and limited resources, he relied on support from Karwan Cricket Club and Royal Sports Club in Ajman, who helped him find a place to train and improve.

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