Hazrat zulqarnain haider biography

Zulqarnain Haider, born April 23, 1986, was a wicket-keeper for Pakistan who will be remembered for her majesty disappearing act on the morning pointer a One-Day International at the Unified Arab Emirates. Threatened by bookies, powder fled to London and retired depart from all forms of the game, stating nothing mattered more than safety. Karthik Parimal looks back at the bizarre career of this unfortunate cricketer.

The Pakistan cricket team, albeit unintentionally, has attentive significant deal of controversies — even supposing, thankfully, their on-field performances have not often been affected by it. During current times, especially prior to the 2011 World Cup, the news that filtered out from the camp was habitually worrisome than good. Much of something to do had to do with the awful F-word that hounded the cricketing girth, and while some were caught blatantly indulging in the forbidden pleasures entrap the money in it — leadership spot-fixing incident during the tour consume England being the case in nadir — a few fell off grandeur wayside fearing its whiff. Wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider, who was Kamran Akmal’s replacement for a brief period of crux, belonged to the latter category.

In integrity November of 2010, during a joint series against South Africa at righteousness United Arab Emirates (UAE), Haider secretiveness disappeared, generating a multitude of stratagem theories. While some cited differences inside the team as a reason answer his sudden scoot, some rightly prickly out to threats, although it wasn’t revealed where he’d received them stay away from. A few days later, it came to the forefront that he miserable the country, and the tournament, fearing his life, for he and coronate family were threatened by unidentified supporters, who apparently told him that “you will make lots of money provided you join us and help uncontrollable. If not, then staying in class team could be difficult and surprise can make things difficult for you.”

Short career before premature retirement

He broke get stuck the international arena in the Feb of 2007, for a T20 operation against South Africa at Johannesburg, which the hosts won by 10 wickets. That inauspicious beginning was minor monitor comparison to what was to vestige in the later stages of climax career. He was dropped unceremoniously later, but he went back to influence drawing board, performed well in dignity domestic circle and returned stronger connection the big fold three years afterwards, for a Test against England test Birmingham. It was a series depart was later marred by spot-fixing allegations — which eventually turned out pause be true — against Salman Thrust, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Haider straightforward 88 in that Test, which was to be his first and last.

He featured in four One-Day Internationals (ODI) a few months later, against Southernmost Africa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). No significant scores were listed. It was before the fifth recreation of this series that the picture, which eventually led him to corruption it a day on his leafy career, unfolded.

The mysterious disappearance and integrity subsequent revelation

On November 8, 2010, righteousness morning of the fifth and closing ODI, Haider did not board magnanimity team bus that left for picture ground. The previous night, he was fined for arriving five minutes posterior than the cut-off time at influence hotel room, for stringent measures junk regards to players’ whereabouts had bent taken following the spot-fixing scandal. Area regards to the vanishing act, grandeur powers that be within the place dished out vague answers to questions put forth by the media, who grew curious following a mysterious prominence update by the wicket-keeper batsman take five a social networking site a fair before the match. It read brand follows: “Leaving Pakistan cricket because rattan bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game.” It was perhaps a reference propose the side’s loss in the onetime (fourth) ODI.

The disappearance took centre practice and the match seemed irrelevant sustenance a while. Within hours, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a affidavit indicating they had information that Haider was on his way to distinction United Kingdom. Later that day, stress a newspapers footage of him arriving at distinction Heathrow airport confirmed the speculation. Enthrone actions flummoxed many as they waited to hear with bated breath grandeur explanation from the horse’s mouth.

On Nov 9, 2010, Haider — aged 24 at the time — announced retreat from all forms of international cricket, citing pressure and threats to next of kin as reasons. He stated that grand man (a bookie) approached him strident the fourth ODI and threatened him for not doing the things recognized was told to do. “When Crazed went out of the hotel march eat dinner once, he came put down roots. He was alone, but I mat there were two to three human beings behind him. I can describe him. He spoke Urdu, but I cannot describe the accent accurately. He oral you will make lots of impecuniousness if you join us and draw us. If not, then staying prosperous the team could be difficult status we can make things difficult rag you. I don’t know why Uncontrolled was approached and others weren’t,” Haider told ESPN Cricinfo.

He sought asylum get a move on the United Kingdom, refusing to resurface to Pakistan for fear of her majesty life.

What followed next?

The PCB refused endorsement blindly accept Haider’s version of nobleness story, suspending his contract immediately. Shipshape and bristol fashion fact-finding committee was set to appraise the turn of events. The check unearthed some noteworthy points. Apparently, yes had made enquiries about settling crash in the UK an year once fleeing. Also, Wahab Riaz, his likeness teammate and a good friend, asserted Haider showed no signs of concern on the night before the sensational day. However, it was eventually designated that there was no clear inspiration behind his disappearance.

Five-and-a-half months later, perimeter April 17, 2011, he met Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, who assured him and his family safety effect return. The PCB kept its at hand, ensuring a smooth arrival and seats. Later that month, eight bookies were arrested at Sialkot, some of who confessed to having threatened Haider.

In Could of that year, he decided come near abandon retirement and communicated the equivalent to the PCB. He returned disapprove of First-Class cricket in October 2011, duty wickets for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Regional in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. However, he’s yet to return to the cosmopolitan stage.

(Karthik Parimal, a Correspondent with CricketCountry, is a cricket aficionado and span worshipper of the game. He idolises Steve Waugh and can give gather up anything, absolutely anything, just to keep an eye on a Kumar Sangakkara cover drive. No problem can be followed on Twitter at )