19-year-old Pakistan batsman Haider Ali etched his name on the record books on debut during the third and final T20I against England at the Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday. The right-hander became the first Pakistan batsman to score a half-century on T20I debut. Ali ended up with 54 and played a crucial role in helping Pakistan level the series and end the tour on a high.
Previously the record for the highest individual score by a Pakistan batsman on T20I debut was with Umar Amin, wo had scored 47 against the West Indies.
Veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez made 86 not out and and Ali 54 in Pakistan’s 190-4. Haider hit five fours and two sixes in his 33-ball stay in the middle.
There was a 20-year age gap between the 39-year-old Hafeez and the 19-year-old Haider but it was hard to notice the difference as they shared a stand of exactly 100 after coming together at 32-2.
“He was good under pressure and just expressed himself,” said player of the series Hafeez of Haider in a post-match interview with Sky Sports.
“I was just trying to back him every time, tell him ‘you are playing well, continue like that,’” he added. “It is great to see youngsters coming from our system and performing well.”
