MikeS
Inactive User
this scumbag along with his m8s corrupted cricket in england this summer now he has the cheek to come over here saying that he is receiving death threatsPakistan keeper Zulqarnain Haider claims asylum in UK
Haider celebrates scoring the winning runs against South Africa
Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has claimed asylum in the United Kingdom, BBC Sport understands.
Haider, 24, fled from Dubai to London on Monday and announced he had retired, claiming he had received death threats after refusing to fix two matches.
However, on Tuesday, he then appeared to leave the door open for a return to international cricket.
He also spoke to the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit, who will remain in touch with him.
Initial reports had suggested Haider would seek political asylum in the UK, but he played them down on Tuesday, telling Pakistan's Geo News channel that he had "no issues" with playing again for Pakistan.
"I have no intentions of applying for political asylum at this stage and, if the Pakistan government is ready to give me assurance of security for me and my family, I am ready to return to Pakistan," said Haider.
"I have no issues playing for Pakistan again provided the Pakistan Cricket Board wants me to play."
However, Pakistan sports minister Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani insisted the government would not support any move from Haider to get asylum in the UK.
"We don't support his actions and believe he should have come to us if he was under threat from anyone," said Jakhrani.
"He didn't have confidence in the national team management or Pakistan Cricket Board. If he is such a weak and scared person he should not have played cricket in the first place, particularly not for the national team.
"This is not way for a member of the national team to behave or for even a professional cricketer to behave."
The wicketkeeper hit the winning runs in last Friday's fourth one-day international win over South Africa in Dubai but then left Pakistan's team hotel and flew to London.
"It is best to retire from international cricket since my family and I are constantly getting threats," he said on his arrival.
Haider claimed he had been approached by a person who asked him to fix the fourth and fifth one-day games against South Africa, who went on to win Monday's deciding game to earn a 3-2 victory in the series.
But he fled before the final game rather than "sell out the dignity and respect of my motherland".
He is currently staying at an unknown address in Britain, and is holding a visitor's visa which will expire after one month.
Haider, who has played only one Test and four one-day games, told Geo News: "I was told to co-operate or I would face lots of problems.
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"This person approached me while I had gone out of the hotel for dinner. He told me 'Co-operate with us and you can make a lot of money.'
"He said 'If you don't co-operate you will no longer be part of the team and we can make life very difficult for you.' "
Haider felt quitting the international game was the only solution, adding: "It is best for me to step down because I can't play in these circumstances. But I would like to continue to play domestic cricket."
The wicketkeeper said he had decided to travel to London because he felt safe there.
Pakistan's ambassador to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, stated that Haider had not approached its embassy in London, adding that the player would be assisted "in every way possible" if contact was made.
The BBC's correspondent in Islamabad, M Ilyas Khan, said the episode has left most cricket observers in Pakistan puzzled with some people sympathising with Haider and others questioning his motives as he is yet to divulge where the threats have come from.
Senior superintendent of police Rana Faisal told local media in Pakistan that police protection has been provided for Haider's family in Lahore.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday Haider had not informed them that was leaving the team hotel nor provided a reason for his sudden decision.
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Haider has let Pakistan down, says former skipper Asif Iqbal
Team manager Intikhab Alam confirmed Haider had taken his passport from him, saying he wanted it to obtain a new SIM card for his mobile phone.
In a statement on Tuesday, the International Cricket Council said it was maintaining regular communication with the PCB.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Clearly this is in the first instance a team matter for Pakistan cricket, but the ICC is willing to provide assistance to the PCB and the player.
"We understand his plight if reports are indeed true, but we can only help if he is willing to engage with us."
Former Pakistan and Kent captain Asif Iqbal, who played in England for over a decade, said he thought Haider had "made a huge mistake" by deserting the team in this manner.
"He should have gone to the team management and told them what he has been telling the world through the media. Had they not taken any action, then he might have resorted to this," Asif told BBC Radio 5 live.
"He would have been better off staying either in Dubai or going back to Pakistan and then seeking protection from the government.
"Dubai is a very safe environment. The ICC headquarters are there.
Adnan Akmal will replace Haider behind the stumps in the Test series
"Just before the start of the series, the ICC anti-corruption unit had told them 'if you are approached by anyone or if you have anything to say, go to the team management. If not, then come to us'. He has not done either."
Angus Porter, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association in the UK, said Haider's claims - if true - represented a worrying development in cricket's battle against gambling driven match-fixing.
"If players are indeed being threatened, then I think that escalates the problem to a new level," Porter told BBC 5 live.
"It's our responsibility as the administrators of the game to make sure that players do feel safe if they are approached in coming forward and telling us what they know, and that they get our support if they do that."
Haider has played four ODIs and three Twenty20 internationals since his debut in 2007, and played his solitary Test match against England at Edgbaston in the summer, where he was out first ball but scored 88 runs in the second innings.
He broke his finger and missed the rest of the series, which was marred by spot-fixing allegations.
Uncapped wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, 25, has been drafted in as Haider's replacement for the Test series against South Africa due to start on Friday in the United Arab Emirates. He is set to become the third Akmal brother to keep wicket for Pakistan in international cricket.
Kamran Akmal, 28, has played 53 Tests and 123 one-day internationals but has since lost his place to Haider.
Youngest brother Umar Akmal, 20, has played 12 Tests and 24 ODIs and is a specialist batsman, but had to take over behind the stumps against Pakistan on Monday after Haider's unexpected departure.
The PCB has also announced that batsman Mohammad Hafeez will replace leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in the Test squad.
well I want to know how many bribes this scumbag took before saying no !
and finally WTF has it got to do with this country
I know dubai would just kick him out as they would not get involved with the BS and human rights bollox
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