Thaindian News

London, April 10(ANI): Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has put himself in a direct conflict with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by saying that runaway wicketkeeper Zulqernain Haider faced threats from the “cricket mafia” and was right to desert the Pakistan team ahead of a match against South Africa last year.

Following the bizarre episode in which Zulqernain had disappeared from his team hotel in Dubai only to resurface in London and seek asylum there, the PCB had terminated his contract and formed a fact-finding committee to establish the facts surrounding his disappearance, which dubbed the player as “weak and nervous” in its report.

Zulqernain, who had claimed that he received death threats for refusing to fix two games, met Malik on Saturday at his London residence to appeal for his security in Pakistan- and possibly revival of his cricketing career- should he return to the country.

Malik’s acknowledgment that the “cricket mafia is strong” and that “the cricketer had the right to flee abroad” might shock many in the PCB, who blamed Zulqernain for bringing shame to Pakistan by deserting the team in the middle of an ODI series.

His confirmation that Zulqernain was receiving death threats not only strengthens the cricketer’s asylum claim but also puts the Interior Minister in a direct clash with PCB chief Ijaz Butt and Sports Minister Ijaz Jakharni, who had reprimanded the player for deserting the team.

In the meeting on Saturday, Malik asked Zulqernain to consider returning to Pakistan and assured him of full security there, and also advised him to approach Butt for revival of his cricketing career, but the former wicketkeeper remained undecided over returning to his homeland.

“Rehman Malik has made promises, but I am not sure if he can be trusted at all,” The News quoted Zulqernain, as saying.

“I will assess the situation, the steps he takes for the safety of my family and myself and then see whether to return or carry on living in London,” he added.

Zulqernain said that whatever he did was for the love of cricket and to save the game from criminals.

“Pakistan needs me and I must be allowed to play for the national side. Malik can do something about it if he wants and I will see how he fulfils his promise,” he added. (ANI)