PCB delays announcing squads after Haider claims

LAHORE: Fresh claims made by runaway wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider’s have led the Pakistan Cricket Board to delay the naming of the provisional team for the 2011 World Cup and the New Zealand series. Zulqarnain had stated that he has knowledge regarding the match-fixers in the team which led the PCB to stop the team announcement for the New Zealand tour and the World Cup.
He claimed on his Facebook page that he will reveal the names of those who have received money to fix matches. “Kis nay kitnay paisay liye, Sab raaz 5 din main faash kar dun ga”, Haider claimed on his Facebook page on Sunday.
After the latest claims by the wicket-keeper batsman, his family has also been receiving threatening calls.
According to reports coming from the board, the PCB has also contacted Zulqarnain, who has now shifted to London from Manchester to stay with another friend. The PCB now wants to know the name of the players involved in fixing so that a proper inquiry is started into their wrongdoings. But so far Zulqarnain has not disclosed any names. A source further disclosed that Zulqarnain has also been ensured of no disciplinary action against him and a place in the team in return for updating the PCB about the details of the players.
Zulqarnain’s wife received three calls, two from unknown destinations and one from Greece. His brother has reported the matter to police
Haider had fled to London after allegedly receiving death threats from match-fixers when he was in Dubai for the ODI series against South Africa and afterwards retired from international cricket in a hush.
Zulqarnain had earlier declared on his MSN page that he would soon be in Islamabad.
“I will soon let the people know the background of some people and those who take or had taken money,” he wrote on the social-networking site.
His wife started getting the calls soon after the message was posted and spread through media.
“The caller speaking in Urdu warned her that if her husband uttered a word about anyone the family would disappear,” Aqeel, Haider’s brother said.
Pakistan submits report on Zulqarnain: Pakistani officials submitted a report Monday into former wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider’s dramatic escape to London, abandoning his team ahead of a match with South Africa, the cricket board said.
The 24-year-old fled the team hotel in Dubai on the morning of the fifth and final one-day against South Africa on November 8, claiming he received death threats from unknown people to influence the results of matches.
After flying into London, Haider retired from international cricket and sought asylum in Britain.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) terminated his contract and formed a three-man committee, headed by team manager Intikhab Alam, to establish the facts surrounding Haider’s disappearance.
The committee finalised and submitted its report to the PCB, the PCB said, declining to make any further comment Monday. Team security manager Khawaja Najam and PCB official Subhan Ahmed were the other two members of the committee.
On Sunday, Haider posted a message on Facebook, threatening to name several players in the next five days who took money to fix matches. His family in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore have told local media that they received death threats. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said its anti-corruption staff met Haider in London and offered support to the former wicket-keeper.
Haider faces severe punishment for violating ICC ethics by not telling the council he was asked to influence match results for money. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt says the Board’s decision on the Haider affair will be based on the committee’s report.