LAHORE:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disciplinary committee slapped runaway wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider with a Rs0.5 million fine and put him on a one-year probation.
The sanctions come after Haider violated the code of conduct by deserting the team during the One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa in the UAE.
Haider appeared before the committee and accepted his mistakes before apologising for abandoning the team and fleeing to London.
"I did what I thought was right at that time," Haider told a press conference. "But I've now realised that I committed a mistake and should have informed the PCB."
Flashback
Haider, who has played four ODIs and a solitary Test besides appearing in three Twenty20s, left the team after the fourth match of the five-match series, claiming to have received life threats from unidentified people who wanted him to underperform. Haider fled to London, in an incident that shook up the Pakistan camp, and sought asylum in the UK.
Haider announced his retirement from international cricket and repeatedly posted messages on a social networking website with claims of being threatened by match-fixers and said that his family is in danger as well. The wicket-keeper, however, returned to Pakistan in April after assurances by the interior ministry that he will be safe in the country.
The PCB terminated his central contract and held back his match fees and stated that the 25-year-old had violated the code of conduct.
On Friday, Haider appeared before the three-member panel, headed by PCB Director Domestic Cricket Sultan Rana. It was widely expected that middle-order batsman Umar Akmal, who Haider blamed for causing him mental stress, and some other members of the team management will also appear in the hearing but no one was called.
Available for selection
Rana said that Haider had apologised for his actions – that sunk Pakistan cricket into deeper turmoil after the spot-fixing scandal in England last year – and the wicket-keeper was now available to play for the country.
"He was issued a show-cause notice and he appeared before the committee," said Rana. "He doesn't want to contest the case and pleaded guilty as well.
"He has withdrawn all the allegations he made [against the players] and after much deliberation he has been kept on a one-year probation and fined."
Rana added that the decision was made taking into account the fact that the 25-year-old had already wasted a whole season of cricket already. "He's available for selection if he intends to play," added Rana.
Haider accepted the verdict and said he was confident of resuming his career. "It all depends on the selection committee and the cricket board if they want to choose me or not.
"I want to concentrate on my cricket now and leave the past behind me."
Zulqarnain Haider
"I did what I thought was right at that time. But with the passage of time I have realised that I committed a mistake and should have informed the PCB. I want to leave the past behind me now."
Sultan Rana
"He has withdrawn all the allegations he made [against the players] and after a detailed deliberation he has been kept on a one-year probation and fined. He is available for selection if he intends to play."
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.
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