Fact-finding committee could recommend action against Haider

Tue, Nov 23 10 09:22 PM

Karachi, Nov 23 (PTI) The three-member fact-finding committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board, probing the sudden departure of wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider from his team hotel in Dubai to London, has completed its inquiry and will submit the report to PCB after the South Africa series. Pakistan team manager and a member of the committee, Intikhab Alam confirmed that the report has been finalised. "The report is complete but we have decided to wait for the series to end, although, we were told by the board to submit it by November 22," he said. The former Test captain declined to comment on the nature of the inquiry and findings but confirmed that the committee members had spoken to Zulqarnain in London and that his viewpoint was part of the report. Well-informed sources said that the committee had blamed Zulqarnain for letting the team down and causing embarrassment to Pakistan cricket through his behaviour. "The committee that also included the security manager of the national team, basically feels that Zulqarnain acted irresponsibly and is not a stable person and, instead of fleeing to London, he should have taken his team members into confidence," a source said. The wicketkeeper had gone missing from the team hotel hours before the fifth and final one-day international against South Africa earlier this month. Zulqarnain later claimed that he took the extreme step after being threatened by a person, who asked him to cooperate in fixing matches during the one-day series. After reaching London , Zulqarnain had claimed that he would give all details of the fixing racket to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit. The player''s application for asylum is still pending with the British home department and will be decided by December. Sources indicated that the fact-finding committee was not going to give a very positive report about Zulqarnain. "In fact the committee during investigations, also came to the conclusion that even during the England tour, Zulqarnain had been making inquiries about ways to settle down in the United Kingdom," the source added. The source hinted that it would not be a surprise if the committee calls for strong action against the wicketkeeper. PTI Corr AH

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