0
KARACHI: Pakistani officials submitted a report Monday into former wicket-keeper Zulgarnain 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.
Several former players criticised Haider for merely trying to get political asylum in Britain.
