ZULQARNAIN HAIDER (PHATOO) TO FACE THE MUSIC ON HIS RETURN SAYS PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD

In a latest development regarding the runaway wicketkeeper, Zulqarnain Haider, it has been learned that he might return to Pakistan on April 24^th 2011. According to reports, Haider will be facing the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) disciplinary committee who will then decide his fate.

Haider has however, clarified that his passport is with the British authorities and until the travelling documents are returned, moving back to his country will not be possible.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the former player met up with the interior minister of Pakistan, Rehman Malik at the latter’s house in London, where he expressed the desire to return to the country and resume his cricket career. Haider also requested Malik to provide security to him and his family. It is believed that after the meeting with Malik, Haider finally made a decision to go back to Pakistan.

However, the lanky wicketkeeper has violated rules and regulations of the PCB and getting off the hook will not be an easy task. According to insiders, Haider will be up against PCB’s disciplinary and inquiry committee before getting clearance to resume his career.

The wicketkeeper, who has applied for asylum in the United Kingdom and is currently living there on a temporary residence permit, has not responded to the show-cause notice that was slapped by the PCB for his actions.

Haider in November 2010 became a matter of embarrassment for the PCB when he deserted his national team, which was in the United Arab Emirates playing a five-match One Day series against South Africa. Haider disappeared right before the fifth and final match of the tournament. The team management was clueless about his whereabouts, and it was only after the match that the UAE authorities informed that Pakistan’s wicketkeeper had boarded a United Kingdom bound flight.

After landing in London, Haider disclosed that he had received life threats from an unknown suspected bookmaker, who wanted him to lose the fourth and fifth match against the Proteas. Haider refused to comply and instead to opted to run for his life. Without revealing any names, he accused certain players within the team of having links with bookies. In his first press conference he announced his retirement from international cricket and expressed the wish to live peacefully in England.

However, later through his Facebook profile, the rogue cricketer pledged to announce the names of the individuals in the PCB that were involved in match-fixing. Nonetheless, he retracted his statement soon after fearing for his family’s security in Pakistan.

The PCB also terminated his central contract and has not cleared the money that the board owes him for representing Pakistan in the matches he played. Haider, threatened to sue the PCB for holding his payment, however, he never pursued a case against the country’s cricket board.

What made Haider finally decide to return home is still unclear, but now it seems as if within the coming days, the Haider saga will finally come to its conclusion - that is if he does indeed return to Pakistan