Anti-climax: Controversial wicket-keeper returns home

Zulqarnain says Rehman Malik’s ‘assurances’ influenced him to come back.

LAHORE:

Pakistan’s absconding wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider has ended his exile and landed in Pakistan, apparently after Interior Minister Rehman Malik assured him of proper security.

“I came back after the minister assured me that my family and I will be provided security,” Haider told reporters in Islamabad, following his meeting Malik and Sports Minister Shaukatullah.

He insisted that he had good reasons for having abruptly left the country, leaving a cryptic status message on his Facebook profile. “I had a potentially growing career with the Pakistan team when I took the decision. No sensible person would sacrifice his career like this without any reason,” he said, adding that he will assess what the scenario is before making cricketing plans. Haider, along with his family, met Malik at his office in Islamabad. Malik told reporters that Haider will be provided full security as promised. “He is free to go anywhere as he is the citizen of Pakistan,” said Malik.

PCB unconcerned

Meanwhile, the PCB has distanced itself from Haider’s decision to return.

After Haider disappeared, the board had formed a fact-finding committee which failed to find the reason the wicket-keeper decided to flee. The board then terminated Haider’s contract and held back his match fees as he kept avoiding the committee’s officials and the matter was buried within the board.  According to the board, he will now have to go through a disciplinary process.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2011.