Forget the Babar comparisons, Haider Ali can play the Rohit Sharma role this T20 World Cup

Over the last year and a half, Haider Ali has been hailed time and again as the next big international batter from Pakistan. He’s been called a ‘World Cup’ player, been advised to look up to Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, and has even been compared to Babar by some of the most esteemed voices in the game.

When acrimonious historical relations are mixed with sports, comparisons between players from either side can become ugly contests of one-upmanship on social media, where an individual players’ talent is sought to justify the superiority of one’s particular team. However, at the end of the day, cricket is but a game. And sportspeople realize that.

In March 2020, Haider responded to queries about his favourite batter/role model, with a simple, “Rohit Sharma”.

This is from Haider Ali's Ask the question session. pic.twitter.com/SmbQZl5SJl

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2020

This stumped a few, given that he had stated that he wanted to be compared to Babar, and not Kohli only a few days prior.  While, this made for a tantalizing headline of a young Pakistani batter seemingly disrespecting an Indian legend, the contents of the piece cleared up that Haider had meant anything but that. “I’m Haider Ali so I can only become Haider Ali,” was his eventual conclusion. On his Twitter, Haider clarified that he respected all the three players, though Rohit was his favourite.

For Haider, a free-flowing game-changer but inconsistent at present – he averages only 25 in T20s – the appeal held in the batter better than anyone there has ever been in consistently going massive is obvious. Rohit has scored three ODI double tons and four T20I hundreds, both records.

He has the talent to star at the top of the order too. At the National T20 Cup, he had a standout campaign, scoring 317 runs at his preferred No.3 position at a strike-rate of 146.75. He put aside the disappointment of being excluded entirely from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, including the reserves, to capitalise on two slices of good luck. Firstly, the cancellation of the New Zealand and England tours ensured the usually low-key competition became the centre of attention. Secondly, an injury to Sohaib Maqsood left a slot in the World Cup squad. Haider ensured he would be the player to fill it.

Of particular note was a stunning 53-ball 91, trumping a record-breaking Babar ton to nail a tall chase. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Haider.

In this tournament, however, his role is unlikely to come in at his favoured fixed top-order position regularly. Pakistan have a rock-solid opening partnership in Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, and other top three options in the squad besides. What they need is an impact player, to inject energy when needed or to provide an electric finish. If he needs inspiration, strangely enough, he can look again to Rohit, who, before he became the opening behemoth, was the dynamo that powered India’s 2007 World T20 win.

The Mumbai batter made his T20I debut at that tournament, and was given the role of a lower middle-order batter throughout his four outings in the tournament.

He contributed 88 crucial runs in India’s successful campaign at a strike-rate of 144.26, without being dismissed. His was a crucial role of providing stability as well as quick runs down the order. Haider can become a similar weapon in Babar’s arsenal, one who can be used in a flexible fashion by his captain in the middle-order should the need arise.

It’s a role he has fulfilled to good effect before. In PSL 2020, he scored 239 runs at a strike-rate of 157.23. He started the season at No.3, but moved around the order to fulfill the needs of his franchise. One could see what a destructive force he could be at the top. His 12-ball 34 at the same position helped Peshawar Zalmi win a 12-over contest against Lahore Qalandars. But that knock also showed how easily he can embrace any situation.

In PSL 2021, he had a brilliant start despite being shuffled around the order yet again. His 8-ball 24 at No.6 helped Peshawar seal a tall chase of 194 in the fifth game of the season against Multan Sultans. He followed it up with a 29-ball 50 which won him a Player of the Match award against Quetta Gladiators. This knock came after he had been sent in at No.4. In Peshawar’s next game, he was sent in at five, and responded with an 18-ball 36.

Though he lost form towards the end of the tournament, it looked like the youngster had the capability as well as the willingness to bat at any position he was told to.

Despite these qualities, he is yet to make his mark at the international level, with a 33-ball 54 against England still the high point. But he comes into the T20 World Cup in form, and, if not with a set position, then a set role he can make his own. That it happens to be the one exemplified by his idol, Rohit, only makes it sweeter.