Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider not cleared to visit Lahore – Cricket news
Pakistan’s renegade wicket-keeper, Zulqarnain Haider, has not been cleared by the Pakistan security agencies to visit his hometown Lahore, fearing security concerns after the cricketer reached Islamabad on Sunday from London.
Talking to media, Haider said, “I am staying in Islamabad because the authorities are yet to clear me to go to Lahore. I am hopeful that in a few days time I will be able to travel to Lahore and try to meet with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials.”
This month, Haider decided to return home after meeting the Interior Minister of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, Rehman Malik, at the minister’s London residence. The minister assured the former Pakistan cricketer of top notch security in case he decided to return to Pakistan.
Later, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Wajid Shamsul http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990, also pledged full security to Haider when he returns to Pakistan. After receiving these assurances from Pakistan’s top level government officials, the runaway wicketkeeper announced
that he would no longer be seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, which he had applied for after slipping into England.
However, Haider’s plans were almost interrupted, when after announcing his return date, he again received threatening calls, which according to him had come from Pakistan. There were rumours that he might reconsider returning to the United Kingdom.
He has also expressed a desire to resume his cricket career. The PCB has made it very clear that the wicketkeeper will have to present himself in front of the PCB’s inquiry committee, which will determine his fate before he can even think of playing cricket
in Pakistan.
Earlier, the wicketkeeper landed himself in the eye of the storm, when in a bid to evade life threats he deserted his national team which was in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
According to Haider he was threatened by a bookie who wanted him to lose the fourth and fifth ODI against the Proteas but Haider refused to adhere to his demands and consequently had to leave the country to save his life.
Haider’s disappearance became a matter of embarrassment for the PCB as the team management was oblivious of Haider’s whereabouts.
After resurfacing in London, Haider revealed the reasons behind his sudden departure from the UAE. He also announced his retirement from International cricket and wished to live in England with peace. After his press conference, the PCB terminated his central
contract because of a direct violation of discipline on part of the wicketkeeper.
However, after only a week, the belligerent wicketkeeper stirred up a hornets’ nest after announcing that he would disclose the names of the individuals involved in match-fixing within the cricket board of Pakistan. After this revelation, his family in Pakistan
started getting threatening calls, because of which Haider ultimately refrained from unmasking the culprits.
Haider will have to resolve his differences with the PCB soon if he wishes to play domestic cricket in Pakistan.
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