Missing act might cost Hyder dear

Mon, Nov 08 10 09:37 PM

Karachi, Nov 8 (PTI) Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider''s abrupt decision to leave the team hotel in Dubai without informing anyone hours before the fifth and final ODI against South Africa, could have an adverse effect on his international cricket career. "His actions fall under the code of conduct and he will face an inquiry on return," said PCB''s legal advisor, Tafazzul Rizvi. Rizvi, however, felt that something was wrong somewhere that led to the wicketkeeper leaving the team hotel suddenly. "Zulqarnain''s actions are totally surprising and strange and I am wondering what could have happened. To take such a big step... we will find out what the reasons were," Rizvi said. Hyder is believed to have received threatening messages on his mobile after he shone in the fourth one-day international in which he hit the winning runs "Leaving Pakistan cricket because got bad messages to lose the match in last game," the last update on Hyder''s facebook account read. Hyder''s elder brother, Reza confirmed that the keeper had been receiving threatening messages from an unknown person. Former Pakistan players like Abdul Qadir, Sarfaraz Nawaz and Basit Ali expressed surprise at Haider''s act. "It is strange the way he acted. I think being a new player maybe he got scared by the threats, but this is nothing new for professional players. Most of us have got threats at some time to do this and that but you just ignore them," Ali said. Qadir had his own take on the whole incident. "What is strange to me is that Zulqarnain is not a frontline or match-winning player, so why threaten him. I think he should have informed the team management about the threats instead of taking such an extreme step," the former leg spinner said. Sarfaraz claimed that the keeper was making up a story to seek political asylum in the United Kingdom. "Why chose to go to the UK if you are getting threats. He should have done returned to Pakistan," Sarfaraz said. Former PCB chairman, Tauqir Zia also expressed doubts about claims made by Hyder. "He is not a match-winner, not someone who can single handedly change the course of a match. Why should he be threatened. "It makes no sense to me and the PCB should hold a proper inquiry into this and find out if the youngster did report anything to the management, and if not, then why didn''t he trust the management," Zia said.

Source: Published>