Support shrunk for troubled Pakistan cricketer Zulqarnain Haider in his own nation as the PCB today suspended his contract and the government refused to support his efforts of seeking asylum in the U.K. after sensationally deserting the team in Dubai.
The Pakistan Cricket Board also constituted a three-member committee to look into the incident of his fleeing from Dubai to London after claiming to have received death threats from match-fixers.
Haider mysteriously left for London hours before the fifth one-dayer against South Africa without informing either the Board or the team management.
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He is now seeking asylum in United Kingdom, claiming that he received death threats during the series from match-fixers.
A senior board official said the stipend contract was suspended because Haider had violated the terms and conditions of his contract as a Pakistan player.
A PCB statement also said that the Board is trying to get in touch with Haider but attempts to contact him have so far remained unsuccessful.
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The fact finding committee includes Subhan Ahmed, Team Manager Intikhab Alam and Team Security Manger Maj. Khawaja Najam. All three members are in Dubai as part of the current team management.
The Board official said the committee would meet soon and send a notice to Haider to report to them.
The government also took a hard stand against the stumper, who announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday barely three months after making his Test debut.
“The government will not support any move from Zulqarnain (Haider) to get asylum in the UK. We don’t support his actions and believe he should have come to us if he was under threat from anyone. He didn’t have confidence in the national team management or board (PCB),” Pakistan Sports Minister Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani told reporters.