ICC ready to come to ‘death-threat’ Haider’s aid

LAHORE: Pakistan wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider has been offered “any help he needs” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after his decision to retire citing death threats.

However, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the global governing body could only help Haider if “he is willing to engage with us”.

The 24-year-old failed to report in Dubai for Pakistan’s one-day international against South Africa and subsequently flew to London having, Haider said, refused to take part in an alleged fixing plot.

An ICC statement said: “The ICC has today (Tuesday) confirmed that it is in regular communication with the Pakistan Cricket Board and has offered to support the PCB in its current investigations into the reasons behind wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider’s decision to leave the Pakistan team on the morning of the final ODI (one-day international) against South Africa in Dubai.

“At the same time, the ICC has also offered Haider, who left the UAE (United Arab Emirates) for London, any help he needs.”Lorgat added: “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.”The latest scandal to hit Pakistan cricket follows a slew of spot and match-fixing allegations, and disciplinary problems.

PCB officials said said they had informed Dubai police of Haider’s disappearance while Sky Television later broadcast images that it said were of Haider arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport.

“I am retiring from international cricket,” Haider told Pakistan’s Geo television by telephone from London.

“There is too much pressure on me, I have received death threats, my family has received threats,” he said in the interview, without naming anyone or elaborating in precise detail on why he was threatened.

The wicket-keeper said he was threatened in the team’s hotel in Dubai, after playing a crucial knock of 19 not out in Pakistan’s victory over South Africa in thre fourth ODI in the UAE on Friday.

“When I went out of the hotel to eat dinner once he came up. He was alone but I felt there were two-three people behind him. I can describe him. He spoke Urdu but I cannot describe the accent accurately,” Haider said.

“He said ‘You will make lots of money if you join us and help us. If not, then staying in the team could be difficult and we can make things difficult for you.’ I don’t know why I was approached and others weren’t.”

The PCB will investigate Haider’s case and said he should have told managers about the threats, but the keeper said he kept quiet to protect other players.

“If I had told the PCB or players, it would’ve gotten out and then who knows? If I had told any of the other players, it might have put them in trouble also,” he said.

Haider, who made his international debut in 2007, played one Test, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games for Pakistan.

He played a gutsy knock of 88 in the Birmingham Test that prevented an innings defeat on Pakistan’s tour of England in August, before he was sent home after injuring his finger. -AFP