Karachi: A probe carried out by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raised a big question mark on the credibility of runaway wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, describing him as a weak and nervous man.
According to a report in Friday's Dawn newspaper, a fact-finding committee set-up by the PCB to look into the mysterious episode of Haider, has found "ambiguity" in the various statements the cricketer has made over the past few weeks, but has failed to reach any conclusion about the "motives" which led to his sudden exit from the team.
A three-member PCB committee comprising newly-appointed Chief Operations Officer Subhan Ahmed, team manager Intikhab Alam and security manager Khawaja Najam in its seven-page report has failed to reach a conclusion as to what went wrong with Zulqarnain, who finished his career by making unfounded allegations against some unnamed people during the Pakistan-South Africa one-day International series in the UAE recently.
The committee found ambiguity in the whole drama and stated in its report: "It was quite strange because Dubai is as safe a place as UK [perhaps safer], but Zulqarnain decided to travel to the UK rather than staying in Dubai or travelling to homeland Pakistan.
"It is also quite strange that in the presence of a full-time security manager of the team and the other PCB officials, Zulqarnain deemed it appropriate to approach the media rather than the PCB, which is his employer," it added. The PCB probe committee report adds: "Before the 4th ODI against South Africa, when Zulqarnain was taking a stroll in the parking area of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai, he met a person who said to him that he must do what he was told to do in cricket or else he and his family would be killed, but he did not recognise the individual."
"Pakistan won the 4th ODI against South Africa but later, he [Zulqarnain] saw a note in his room written on the hotel notepad which contained some money figures and the names of few females which the cricketer later handed to the Scotland Yard police.
Shadowed
"The Scotland Yard has provided the 24-year-old player with a tracking device and he is shadowed by the sleuths everywhere."
The report, according to the paper's source, claims: "In view of some support staff of the team, Zulqarnain is a case of complex personality and is someone who can be easily convinced into believing whatever is said to him. He is also stated to be a weak, nervous person."
Akmal, Malek told to give details of assets
The Pakistan Cricket Board has told wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and former captain Shoaib Malek that they will not be considered for the World Cup squad unless they submit documents listing their assets and bank accounts to the PCB by December 30.
PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said yesterday that the fate of both players would be decided after they submit the required financial documents.
The International Cricket Council has extended Pakistan's deadline to submit a preliminary 30-man World Cup squad to January 5.
— AP
