Pakistan’s runaway wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider will appear before the disciplinary committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday. In a long awaited hearing, Zulqarnain will try to convince the disciplinary committee that his decision to desert the national team in Dubai and to flee to London, where he sought asylum, was justified as he was under threat from alleged match-fixers.
According to Zulqarnain, he received the threat during the series against South Africa last year in Dubai after which he left the hotel without informing the team management. The wicket-keeper only returned to Pakistan in late April after getting assurances of security from interior minister, Rehman Malik. The PCB, however, has told Zulqarnain to face disciplinary proceedings for violating his central contract.
“Zulqarnain has been told to appear before the disciplinary committee on Friday and it is the committee that will now decide his fate,” a PCB official said. He said the chairman of the Board, Ijaz Butt had also ignored attempts by him to seek a one-to-one meeting. “The matter is now in the hands of the disciplinary committee as Zulqarnain has clearly violated the terms of his contract,” one official said.
The board is also upset with Zulqarnain’s latest claims in the media that some Pakistani players were involved in spot-fixing. A TV channel quoted Zulqarnain as saying that he would soon approach the Supreme Court for justice and give the court the names of the alleged players involved in corruption. While the PCB has released partial payment to Zulqarnain of his match fees and other payments on humanitarian grounds, it has refused to clear him to play domestic cricket despite repeated pleas.
The stumper made his Test debut against England last year at Edgbaston and scored a fighting 88. Sources said the disciplinary committee is expected to record statements of some Pakistan players who were in the team that played against South Africa and manager, Intikhab Alam.
