Derbyshire sign Pakistan international Haider Ali for 2023 season
Batter joins Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal as the club's overseas signings
ESPNcricinfo staff
27-Jan-2023
Haider Ali has played 33 T20Is and two ODIs for Pakistan • PCB
Haider Ali, the Pakistan batter, will join Derbyshire for the 2023 county season.
Haider, 22, has played 35 white-ball matches for his country, including two appearances at the recent ICC T20 World Cup, where Pakistan were runners-up to England. In 33 T20I appearances, he has scored 499 runs, including three half-centuries, one of which came against England at Emirates Old Trafford in 2020.
Announcing Haider's signing on Friday, Derbyshire recognised his red-ball abilities also, citing an average of 54.33 from 11 first-class appearances, including three centuries and four half-centuries. He will be available in all formats during the 2023 county season, subject to international commitments, and joins Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal as the club's two overseas signings.
Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire's head of cricket and the former Pakistan coach, said: "Haider is an immensely talented young player who already has a wealth of international experience, which will be key for us in all formats.
"I spoke with him at the T20 World Cup, and again during the Lanka Premier League, and he's so hungry to come to England and prove himself in all formats, that's exactly the attitude we want in our dressing room. Of course, he still has a lot of developing to do, but I've outlined what I expect from him and I have no doubt Haider will succeed in county cricket."
Haider said: "I've seen over the last few years how many Pakistan players have improved their game by playing at a high standard in county cricket, and that's something I think could really help my development.
"Mickey Arthur is such a respected figure in world cricket and he's still so highly regarded within the Pakistan set-up, so the opportunity to learn from him is one I'm so excited about... there's a lot of good players here and Mickey wants to achieve something big with this club. Hopefully I can contribute a lot of runs in 2023 and entertain the Derbyshire crowd."
Haider's move to Derbyshire comes after fellow Pakistan batter Shan Masood left the club where he scored 1,766 runs across formats last season for a two-year deal at Yorkshire, where he will be captain in 2023.