Renegade wicketkeeper, Zulqarnain Haider backs down from seeking asylum in England: Pakistan Cricket
Pakistan’s runaway wicketkeeper, Zulqarnain Haider has finally backed down from seeking asylum in the United Kingdom after receiving security assurances from the Government of Pakistan.
Haider made his decision after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan personally met him and guaranteed “the highest level of security” to the cricketer should he return to Pakistan.
Earlier last week, Haider had a meeting with the Interior Minister of Pakistan, Rehman Malik, who also assured him of top notch security. After these gestures from the Government, Haider decided not to further seek asylum in England. In a letter to the British
Home Secretary, Theresa May, he said, “In light of the assurances that I have received, I feel that I no longer need sanctuary in the UK and have accordingly decided to withdraw my claim for asylum.”
In the letter, Zulqarnain went on to praise the efforts of Wajid Shamsul http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990, who according to him, convinced the higher authorities in Pakistan to provide the wicketkeeper and his family, top notch security.
Haider sought asylum in England as soon as he realised his life was endangered in Pakistan and fled. However, by running away to the UK, Haider found himself in a bitter conflict with the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) who believed that the former Pakistan
wicketkeeper violated discipline, and needed to be held responsible for his actions.
His central contract has been terminated by the PCB and a life ban has been imposed on him from playing cricket for his national side.
Haider landed himself in this predicament after he deserted the Pakistan squad in November last year, when Pakistan was playing a one-day series in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757. Haide,r without informing the team management disappeared from
the team hotel just before the fifth One Day International.
Later he resurfaced in England, where he disclosed that he had received life threats from an alleged bookie who wanted him to throw the fourth and fifth ODI against South Africa. Nonetheless, the lanky wicketkeeper refused to comply and slipped from the
UAE.
This action was not taken lightly by the PCB, who endured an embarrassing situation because of his actions. Later relations between the two further estranged when Haider threatened to sue the Board for not paying him the money that he rightfully deserved
for representing Pakistan.
The PCB, on the other hand, clarified that it will not release any outstanding payments to the former wicketkeeper for as long as his asylum case remained unsettled. Earlier, Haider had also vowed to unmask the individuals within the PCB involved in match-fixing.
Nonetheless, he later retracted from his statement arguing that his family in Pakistan would face the consequences if he disclosed the culprits.
According to some recent unconfirmed reports, the PCB has also given the wicketkeeper some signs of easing the tension between them, and it is believed that the board might lift the life ban from him once he chooses to return home.
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