ZULQARNAIN HAIDER SATISFIED WITH PAKISTAN’S FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

The runaway Pakistan wicket-keeper, Zulqarnain Haider, who has recently returned home after spending months in self-exile, has expressed satisfaction over Pakistan Cricket Board’s ongoing fight against corruption and hoped it would bear positive results.

The former wicket-keeper hoped the Pakistan Government, the national cricket board and the International Cricket Council would root out the menace of match and spot-fixing from the sport of gentlemen. He opined that he is ready to support the fight against corruption even though it damaged his cricketing career.

"I am satisfied that the ongoing fight against corruption in cricket will bear positive results," said Haider in a telephone interview on Thursday. "I put my career on line and still don't bother if it continues to suffer," he added further.

The 25-year-old Pakistan cricketer fled Dubai for London in November last year in the midst of his team’s neutral venue series against South Africa citing death threats from some unknown match-fixers. He later sought political asylum in Britain, a plea that was neither supported by the Pakistan government nor the Pakistan Cricket Board.

After spending almost six months of self-exile in London, the escapee returned home on Monday.

After his return home, Pakistan police started an investigation of the calls Zulqarnain received from the anonymous bookmakers. The police arrested eight people in the city of Sialkot and they admitted threatening the former wicket-keeper.

Zulqarnain, who has not yet been given a security clearance to go back to his home in the capital city ofPunjab, Lahore said that the detentions have given him more confidence.

"The kind of confidence given to me by the government has brought me back and I am happy that they are taking serious steps," Haider said.

"The image of Pakistan cricket has been badly hurt by match-fixing and this continues to haunt it after every few months, but now I hope that with the serious steps and actions a time will come when our cricket becomes clean," he added further.

Haider, who had earlier announced retirement from international cricket following death threats, is eager to make a come-back in the national side and said that he will soon meet the Pakistan Cricket Board to clear his position.

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ZULQARNAIN HAIDER EAGER TO GET BACK IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman, Zulqarnain Haider, has admitted missing international cricket. He announced retirement from the sport after receiving life threats from unknown people in Pakistan. However, he has shown intentions of making a comeback to the national side after Pakistan police arrested eight bookies from Sialkot, allegedly behind the threat calls to Haider.

The troubled keeper stated, “My cricket has already suffered a lot and I miss playing. I had worked very hard to get into the national side and I don’t know why I was targeted by the bookmakers. But I think the stance I took against corruption is equally important as playing for Pakistan.”

Commenting on his hardships, Haider added, “I started playing cricket in a shadow of crisis. Aged 13, I lost my mother but still managed to continue playing cricket. I never knew that things would turn out this way. I hope that with serious steps, a time will come when our cricket will become clean”

Haider was ready to clear things with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He was well aware about his bad image in the board and country, but wanted to speak to everyone for normalising things.

Although the keeper batsman made his intentions clear to everyone, Chief Selector of PCB, Mohsin Hasan Khan revealed that Haider would only be considered for selection once cleared by the board.

The Pakistan cricket team has suffered a lot in the recent past and 2010 was a year of controversies for the Men in Green. Three top players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were suspended from any form of cricket following spot-fixing allegations. The trio was later found guilty and banned from playing.

Just when things looked to be heading towards a right direction, Haider fled to London, claiming his life was under threat. Pakistan were left without any wicket-keeper for the final game of the five-match One Day International (ODI) series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The youngster then claimed asylum in UK, as he didn’t feel safe back home. He also wanted his family to be with him, as they were also receiving threat calls. However, the government of Pakistan guaranteed security to Haider and brought him back to Pakistan.

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