ISLAMABAD: The son of Pakistan’s legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir has beentaken into custody by Lahore police after a domestic worker accused him ofrape at a farmhouse near the family’s cricket academy, igniting intensepublic debate about justice, celebrity influence and the safety ofvulnerable women in domestic employment.
The complainant, a housemaid employed by the family, lodged a firstinformation report (FIR) at the Sundar police station on January 23, 2026,alleging that the incident occurred on January 22. According to the FIR,she was summoned to the location under the pretext of performing householdduties, forcibly taken inside the premises, overpowered and sexuallyassaulted. Police officials confirmed that the accused was detained thesame day the complaint was registered and a case under section 376 of thePakistan Penal Code (rape) has been formally registered.
The accused has been identified in police documents and multiple mediareports as Sulaman Qadir (also spelled Salman Qadir or Suleman Qadir insome accounts), aged approximately 41 years. He is one of the sons offormer Test cricketer Abdul Qadir, who passed away in 2019. Sulaman Qadirhimself played first-class cricket, featuring in 26 matches between 2005and 2012, taking 68 wickets at an average of 33.19 before transitioninginto coaching. He currently serves as a coach at the Abdul Qadir CricketAcademy located in Newas Barki on the outskirts of Lahore.
Abdul Qadir, widely regarded as one of the greatest leg-spinners in crickethistory, represented Pakistan in 67 Test matches and 132 ODIs, claiming 236Test wickets and 132 ODI wickets. His unique bowling action and mastery ofthe googly earned him global acclaim and the nickname “The King of WristSpin”. The family’s deep association with cricket has made the presentallegation particularly sensitive and widely covered across national andinternational sports media.
Investigators have recorded the complainant’s statement and arranged forher medico-legal examination at Services Hospital Lahore. Preliminarypolice sources indicated that the medical report is awaited to corroboratethe allegation of forcible penetration and associated injuries. Thefarmhouse where the alleged offence took place is situated close to thecricket academy and is reportedly used occasionally by family members forprivate gatherings and training-related activities.
Legal experts familiar with rape prosecutions in Punjab province noted thatsection 376 carries a potential punishment of imprisonment for life ordeath in cases involving aggravating circumstances. However, convictionrates in sexual offence cases remain low due to challenges in evidencecollection, societal stigma, delays in forensic reporting and pressure oncomplainants to withdraw complaints. The Punjab Police Crime Statistics for2024–2025 showed 4,872 rape cases registered in the province, with onlyabout 0.8 per cent resulting in convictions according to independentmonitoring reports.
The case has triggered renewed discussion on the working conditions andprotection mechanisms available to domestic workers, especially femalemaids who frequently live in employer households. The National Commissionon the Status of Women has repeatedly highlighted the absence ofcomprehensive domestic labour legislation in Pakistan, leaving millions ofwomen exposed to exploitation without effective legal recourse or socialsecurity.
Read Top Stories
Public reaction on social media platforms has been sharply divided.Supporters of the Qadir family have questioned the timing and motive behindthe complaint, urging authorities to ensure a fair and transparentinvestigation. Others have expressed solidarity with the alleged victim,pointing to similar high-profile cases in recent years where powerfulindividuals were accused of abusing domestic staff. Cricket fans expresseddisappointment that the legacy of Abdul Qadir, who remained a respectedfigure even after retirement, is now linked to such a serious criminalallegation.
Police officials have appealed to the public to refrain from spreadingunverified information that could prejudice the ongoing inquiry. Seniorofficers stated that the investigation team includes officers from theWomen Protection Cell and that forensic evidence, including any availableCCTV footage from the farmhouse vicinity, is being examined. The accused isexpected to be presented before an anti-terrorism court or magistrate for aremand hearing in the coming days.
The development comes at a time when Pakistan’s cricket fraternity isalready grappling with multiple off-field controversies. The PakistanCricket Board continues to face criticism over governance and playerconduct issues. Whether this case will have any bearing on the reputationof the Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy or the broader Qadir family remains tobe seen, but it has undoubtedly cast a shadow over one of Pakistan’s mostcelebrated sporting bloodlines.
ogimageimage-name