Zulqarnain Haider Finally Exposes Teammate Who Made Him Flee To London During ODI Series
Published - 03 May 2020, 02:17 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:06 AM
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has finally revealed the reason behind his disappearing act during an ODI series against South Africa in 2010. His international career came to an unprecedented, shocking and extraordinary end when he fled the ODI series against South Africa in UAE for London.
Zulqarnain Haider had claimed that he decided to leave the series midway after receiving death threats following the fourth ODI. He had left the team hotel without warning on the morning of the fifth ODI and a day later was found to be in the UK. He sought asylum in London fearing for his safety, but returned to Pakistan eventually in 2011.
The former Pakistan international has finally revealed the reason behind his surprising act. Zulqarnain Haider has sensationally blamed Umar Akmal for his act, saying he was threatened by the tainted player for not conniving with him to lose a match.
Zulqarnain Haider claimed that he was forced to leave his team and fly out to London after receiving threatening messages from his then teammate Umar Akmal and a few others after he refused to under-perform in the third game of the series.
“I remember telling him to just do his job and carry the drinks. But later he (Umar) and some others directly threatened me and kept on badgering me so much that I came under psychological pressure and fear and flew to London without informing anyone,” he said in an interview.
Zulqarnain Haider further said the three-year ban on Umar for not revealing spot-fixing approaches is too lenient. The PCB recently banned Umar from all forms of cricket for three years for corruption.
“He has been involved in shady dealings and not only does he deserve a life ban even his property and assets should be seized,” Zulqarnain Haider said.
The wicketkeeper, who scored 88 runs in the only Test he played at Birmingham in 2010 in place of Kamran Akmal, also claimed that he had reported the matter of Umar telling him to under-perform to the management.
“But the threats and pressure were too much for me to bear and I left. I was also getting threats from some unknown persons to under perform,” he said.
