Pakistani cricket player Zulqarnain Haider claims death threats forced
him to seek refuge in London to London rather than “sell out the dignity and respect of
my motherland” by agreeing to throw matches.
The 24-year-old, who The player says he received death threats from match-fixers after hitting the winning runs in a recent one-day international agasinst South Africa , in which he made 19 not out. He then
failed to report for duty at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and made his waay to Britain,
In an
interview reported to have been given from a hotel at Heathrow, Haider
told Pakistan based Geo News: “I received death threats to lose the
fourth and fifth one-day internationals against South Africa, but I
could not compromise the dignity of my country. I would rather flee
away than sell out the dignity and respect of my motherland.”
He
added: “I can assure you that I am safe and sound. I’m not arrested but
I cannot tell where I am hiding for the sake of protection of my life.
“Immigration
officials in the UK were kind to me and proposed me to hire the
services of a counsellor but I am yet to reach a decision.”
He said his his family IN Pakistan was also in danger from criminal elements.
It is believed he cannot afford the services of a lawyer as he has only been part of the team for a short time but Pakistan’s High Commissioner
to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan promised to give Haider
“any consular assistance that he requires.”.
The latest match-fixing scandal comes after a number of spot-fixing allegations against the
Pakistan team during their recent tour of England saw four
players questioned by UK police.
