Tribune’s Gamechangers 2011: Zulqarnain Haider

Cricket’s own whistle-blower.

Some called him ‘mentally ill’ while others spat out the word ‘traitor’ in his direction.

After Haider deserted his team in Dubai, before the fifth ODI against South Africa, he faced all sorts of slander. He left a high-paying job as wicket-keeper of the Pakistan cricket team and left his family behind because he refused to be part of the clan that indulged in match-fixing. Not only this, when he tried to bring light to the sordid affairs taking place before and after cricket matches, no one believed him.

All this changed when our prized players, Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir were put in the slammer. Haider is now a national hero, and he vows to return to Pakistan and play ‘honest’ cricket for his country.

Quote of the year: “Jin logon ne meray upar allegations lagayien aaj unke moo kaalay ho rahay hain InshAllah.”