PCB’s Fact Finding Committee Slams Zulqarnain
Pakistan Cricket Board’s three-member fact finding committee probing the shocking departure of wicket-keeper batsman Zulqarnain Haider on the eve of the fifth ODI against South Africa last month has slammed the keeper for his illogical
act that has tarnished the name of the game in the country and jeopardized his international career.
A three-member committee comprising of the newly appointed COO Of PCB, Subhan Ahmed, team manager Intikhab Alam and security manager Khawaja Najam that spoke to the keeper thrice during their investigation has concluded that the Board
"should write to Haider seeking complete written details of the entire episode”.
The report was leaked to a certain section of the Pakistan media two days ago and further irked the management of the beleaguered governing body of the game in the country.
The drama unfolded on the eve of the fifth and final ODI staged at Dubai between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, when Zulqarnain the lone wicket-keeper in the squad deserted the team and boarded a flight to the UK after claiming that he was
threatened by some unknown bookies who wanted him to join his group or face dire consequences.
The Lahore born keeper has been England since he fled the country and as a result of his act the PCB has already suspended the now retired wicketkeeper's central contract.
The report was tabulated after a fortnight of work by the committee and submitted to the PCB on the 29th of November.
The report has taken a tough stance on Zulqarnain’s act and has recommended the PCB to establish further contact with him and find out the details of the threats received before taking a decision on his future.
"It is difficult to say with complete confidence at this stage as to what were the motives [behind the departure]," it concludes. But one of its observations seemingly offers a hint: "Some close associates of Haider, when contacted in
UK, advised that during his last visit to UK with Pakistan team this summer, he had made enquiries on settling down in UK."
The scathing report also made a note of Zulqarnain’s lack of communication with the rest of the squad about the decision; he did not even speak to Wahab Riaz the left arm fast bowler who was in the room with him the day he received the
threats.
The report also states that there are certain contradictions in the wicket-keeper’s statements as he also claimed that he first received the threat two days before the fourth ODI.
"His view was that Haider was normal and did not look worried," the report says. "He did not discuss anything with Wahab with whom he was quite friendly."
"When he was walking in the parking area of the hotel, he met a person who said to him he must do what he is told to do in cricket else he and his family would be killed, later (he did not mention the date) he saw a note in his room which
was on the hotel notepad on which some amounts and female names were mentioned. He has since handed over the note to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 Yard”.
It remains to be seen what the PCB decides to do with the with the Lahore player who has severely dented his chances of making a reappearance in international cricket, on the other hand it is not yet clear if he would get political asylum
in the United Kingdom.
The next hearing in his asylum case is in January next month and the wicket-keeper would have a chance to push for his case there, in the meantime his family awaits to know the outcome back in Lahore.
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