Zulqarnain Haider quits cricket

Haider says he receiv­ed contin­uous threat­s from a man who spoke in Urdu.

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday, saying he is doing what he thinks is right.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told The Express Tribune these are media reports and that Haider has not communicated this decision to the board.

Haider said he had been approached by a person who asked him to fix the fourth and fifth one-dayers. "I was told to cooperate or I would face lot of problems," Zulqarnain said from London before later announcing he was retiring from international cricket.

"I have decided it is best for me to retire from international cricket since my family and I are constantly getting threats. It is best I leave international cricket."

Defending his retirement decision, Haider says he has quit cricket as he is continuously receiving threats from an a man speaking in Urdu, who first contacted him when he used to go out from the hotel to have lunch.

Haider has revealed that this is not the first time in his career that he has received threats. He said he was asked to accommodate some players in the team when he was captaining the Lahore side in the domestic cricket.

Haider has refused to comment on his application for political asylum. He says the British immigration officials have directed to keep this matter confidential.

He says he will write a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board to defend his decision to retire from international cricket.

Also, Zulqarnain Haider has thanked the team management, senior players and the PCB for their support in his short cricketing career.

Pakistan is my mother, I can't think of selling her: Haider

Talking to the media via telephone from London on Monday, wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider said he could not compromise on his principles and therefore left for England.

"God knows who is involved in match-fixing...  Pakistan is my mother. I can't think of selling my mother," the wicketkeeper told a private news channel referring to the threats that led to his withdrawal from the team. He added that he had "starved before and can do the same in the future", referring to his financial situation.

He launched a passionate appeal to the media to help him bring his wife and children to England as he was seriously short of money. Zulqernain said that he has not been detained by the immigration authorities in Britain and that UK immigration authorities treated him well but he refused to disclose his whereabouts. He further added that he had no money to hire a lawyer but has faith that God will help him through the ordeal.

Talking to Express 24/7, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Tauqeer Zia said “I think there will be more scandals if Haider speaks out the truth. I hope PCB can help him out,” adding that the scandal needs to be investigated so cricket can be free of corruption

“Frankly, he is not a match winner. If he has been threatened then there must be other players who must have been contacted,” said Zia.

Former cricketer Zaheer Abbas told Express 24/7 that Haider is a God-fearing man and therefore his statements may be correct.

“No one from the PCB has said a word about Haider or how they will look into this matter. I am really shocked,” he said, adding that Haider has to reveal the truth about what really happened to him and has to give names.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief called Pakistan's wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider to report an official compliant in order for them to start investigation in the alleged death threats.

Speaking to Emirates 24/7, Brigadier Khalil Al Mansouri, Head of Dubai Police CID said that they did not start any investigation into the Pakistani wicketkeeper's claims.

“If he received death threats or any other types of threats, then he should come forward and file an official report. We cannot start investigations on our own. Someone should come forward and report the incident or the threat.”

He pointed out that they came to know about this incident from the media.

“We did not get the official story from the Pakistani team either,” he said.

British press abuzz with cricket scandals - again

The British media said Pakistani cricketer Zulqarnain Haider's flight to England, after deserting his team just before the final One Day International against South Africa in Dubai, has 'disturbed' the International Cricketing Council (ICC).

One British newspaper quoted ICC sources, saying the council believes Zulqarnain is 'absolutely straight' as regards his innocence.

Media reports say ICC concerns have grown to see a player considered to be above suspicion in the recent spot-fixing scandal, being targeted by criminals behind betting operations.

British media quoted ICC sources saying there is no suggestion that Zulqarnain is guilty of anything except producing a brilliant performance to help his team win in the fourth one day against South Africa.

Media reports say ICC acknowledges the fact that players' families have been threatened before by these criminals and PCB is doing everything to help Zulqarnain and his family.

Haider was seen at the Heathrow airport later last night and is reportedly seeking political asylum.

I will give reasons for my decision to leave Dubai: Haider

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider arrived in England after mysteriously disappearing hours before the fifth and final one-day international against South Africa in Dubai.

"I have come here on my own expenses on a one month visa. I will be staying at a hotel on my own expenses," Zulqarnain told a private news channel after spending nearly four hours with immigration authorities at Heathrow Airport.

"I will speak in detail on the reasons for my decision to leave Dubai and come to London later on," he said without elaborating any further.

Earlier, Pakistan's team management said the keeper was last seen at the team's hotel in Dubai early in the morning.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Zulqarnain had not informed them he was planning to leave the hotel nor had he told them the reason for his sudden decision.

"A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no further comment will be made until the facts are known," the PCB said in a statement.

In a message on his Facebook account, Zulqarnain appeared to suggest he was worried about his personal safety after receiving threats. "Leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad messages for lose the match in last game," he wrote.

Pakistan officials reported Zulqarnain's disappearance to the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security unit, as well as local police.

The 24-year-old scored an unbeaten 19 and hit the winning runs as Pakistan levelled the five-match series 2-2 in the fourth one-dayer on Friday.

Media reports say ICC concerns have grown to see a player considered to be above suspicion in the recent spot-fixing scandal, being targeted by criminals behind betting operations.

British media quoted ICC sources saying there is no suggestion that Zulqarnain is guilty of anything except producing a brilliant performance to help his team win in the fourth one day against South Africa.

Media reports say ICC acknowledges the fact that players' families have been threatened before by these criminals and PCB is doing everything to help Zulqarnain and his family.

He was seen at the Heathrow airport later last night and is reportedly seeking political asylum.

Threatening messages

His brother Reza told Reuters from Lahore that Zulqarnain had expressed fears after receiving threatening messages. "The last time I spoke to him he told me he was getting threatening messages after the fourth match and to pray for him," said Reza before adding his family was in touch with Zulqarnain and concerned about his safety.

"We would like to know a lot of things like why did the PCB management give him his passport, were they aware of the threats he had got?", Reza said.

The PCB said Zulqarnain had asked Pakistan officials for his passport. "Zulqarnain was in possession of his passport at the time he left the hotel, which he had taken from the team management the previous evening for personal use," said the board.

PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi told Reuters that Zulqarnain had breached his central contract. "He will definitely face an inquiry and disciplinary action whenever he contacts us. But we are concerned about this whole situation," said Rizvi.

Lahore police official Rana Faisal said they were investigating Zulqarnain's disappearance. "We have received no official complaint but taking note of the media reports we have sent some officers to his house (in Lahore) to find out details," Faisal said.

Zulqarnain has played one test, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games for Pakistan.

With additional input from Reuters.