Interior Minister Rehman Malik puts himself in a direct conflict with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), saying he agrees that runaway cricket player Zulqernain Haider faced threats from the “cricket mafia” and he was right to desert the Pakistani team.
The refugee wicketkeeper met Malik on Saturday at his London residence to appeal for security in Pakistan — and possibly revival of his cricketing career — should he returned to the home country.
The former Pakistan wicketkeeper deserted the team in Dubai and fled to Britain, where he sought asylum in November last, claiming that he received death threats for refusing to fix two games.
Malik’s acknowledgment that the “cricket mafia is strong” and that “the cricketer had the right to flee abroad” will shock many in the PCB, who blamed Haider for bringing shame to Pakistan by deserting the team in the middle of a One-day International series.
His conformation that Haider was receiving death threats not only strengthens the cricketer’s asylum claim but also puts the minister in a direct clash with PCB chief Ijaz Butt and fellow Sports Minister Ijaz Jakharni, who carpeted the player for deserting the team.
In the meeting on Saturday, Malik asked Haider to consider returning to Pakistan and assured him of full security there. He also advised him to approach Butt for revival of his cricketing career. However, the former player was still undecided.
“Rehman Malik has made promises, but I am not sure if he can be trusted at all, Haider told ‘The News’. “I will assess the situation, the steps he takes for the safety of my family and myself and then see whether to return or carry on living in London.”
Haider said what he did was for the love of cricket and to save the game from criminals. “Pakistan needs me and I must be allowed to play for the national side. Malik can do something about it if he wants and I will see how he fulfils his promise,” he added.
The refugee wicketkeeper met Malik on Saturday at his London residence to appeal for security in Pakistan — and possibly revival of his cricketing career — should he returned to the home country.
The former Pakistan wicketkeeper deserted the team in Dubai and fled to Britain, where he sought asylum in November last, claiming that he received death threats for refusing to fix two games.
Malik’s acknowledgment that the “cricket mafia is strong” and that “the cricketer had the right to flee abroad” will shock many in the PCB, who blamed Haider for bringing shame to Pakistan by deserting the team in the middle of a One-day International series.
His conformation that Haider was receiving death threats not only strengthens the cricketer’s asylum claim but also puts the minister in a direct clash with PCB chief Ijaz Butt and fellow Sports Minister Ijaz Jakharni, who carpeted the player for deserting the team.
In the meeting on Saturday, Malik asked Haider to consider returning to Pakistan and assured him of full security there. He also advised him to approach Butt for revival of his cricketing career. However, the former player was still undecided.
“Rehman Malik has made promises, but I am not sure if he can be trusted at all, Haider told ‘The News’. “I will assess the situation, the steps he takes for the safety of my family and myself and then see whether to return or carry on living in London.”
Haider said what he did was for the love of cricket and to save the game from criminals. “Pakistan needs me and I must be allowed to play for the national side. Malik can do something about it if he wants and I will see how he fulfils his promise,” he added.
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