http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zulqarnain-Haider-c98685 takes back international retirement
Another token retirement by a Pakistani cricketer met its expected fate as the supposed whistle blower in the match and spot fixing controversy, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zulqarnain-c98682, took back his decision to quit international cricket in a press conference arranged at his
house in Lahore.
The 25-year-old made a shocking move of quitting the Pakistani team that was taking part in a bi-lateral series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 last year and fled to England. He claimed in London that match fixers or bookmakers had approached
him after the third and fourth match of the series that went down the wires, before the Proteas prevailed 3-2.
He stated that he was given death threats if he was not to co-operate with them or join their gang which included many leading players.
The wicketkeeper, who had represented Pakistan in one Test, where he scored a fighting 88 in the second innings, claimed that he was under mental duress and feared for his security in Dubai and Pakistan, hence, wanted to stay in England. Later the Lahore
born player applied for political asylum, his case was considered by many as being extremely weak.
After spending more than five months in England, Zulqarnain decided to return to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, but only after assurances from Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik that he and his family would be safe.
In Lahore yesterday afternoon, he told members of the media that the decision to return to cricket was in national interest as he was keen on resuming his career and serving Pakistan at the highest level, importantly though, he did not talk about the whistle
blowing that he had done in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 or the information that he shared with the Pakistani government upon his return to the country.
"I have decided to take back my retirement decision in the national interest," said 25-year-old Haider. "The situation is also different now from when I went to London. I want to play cricket again and now it is up to the cricket board to decide when to
clear me."
On the other hand, ever since his abandonment of the team in UAE, Zulqarnain has had his central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suspended. There is no likely hood of him regaining a contract in the nearby future unless there is an intervention
from the top brass of the country.
PCB has time and again re-inforced that they want Zulqarnain to provide details of the threats to them and explain before an integrity committee his decision to abandon the team without consulting the team management. PCB believes that the decision brought
bad name and further tarnished an already low reputation of the governing body of the game in the country.
A PCB official stated that the Board was still seeking answers to the questions that have been sent to the wicketkeeper since long.
"The committee wanted certain clarification from Haider and he will be given an opportunity to meet PCB officials only after he sends his reply," a PCB spokesman said.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Zulqarnain would ever represent the country at the highest level, there are many in the cricketing circles that believe that he should be banished for life unless he can substantiate his claims with proofs.
On the other hand, Pakistan cricket has seen some remarkable comebacks by players who have been condemned for one reason or the other by an administration of the Board, only to be revered by another, hence there might still be light at the end of the tunnel
for the wicketkeeper.
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