Spot Fixing?

[Stroller95]

A player looking for refugee status fleeing from their cricket team is new.

[SaintPowelly]

I have alot of respect for Haider, refusing to betray his country

[keshto]

This Haider story has become really confusing...

[Stroller95]

Oowah, the other half, cynic sine par something, has rated this the most cunning asylum plan since Salman Rushdie leaked his own fatwa. It is getting pretty damn hard to support Pakistan in my family, grandma has gone from pitying glances to outright shock.

[keshto]

What's your take on this Stroller?

I must say I don't know if I can form an opinion. Haider seems like an 'interesting' character.

why the hell did he retire? Does it even make sense to announce retirement? problem is not a thing in this Haider Saga makes sense to me. Everything is so vague.

[Stroller95]

Ha, don't ask me, kesh, I am the most willing of believers. I believe this bloke has been threatened, played his best despite the threats, then fled. My other half reckons it is an asylum ploy. My mother-in-law reckons it is a convoluted plot designed to show Butt, Asif and Aamer were in fear for their lives.

The only thing I know for sure is that we will never know for sure. Bring on the Ashes.

[keshto]

I don't know what to believe anymore! I guess time will tell

[SaintPowelly]

Interesting theory.. but I think that he is genuine

[amitb]

Its quite sad to see mud-slinging been done on Haider. In various aspects of our live whistle-blowers are not always give the respect they deserve for their courage. Instead they are labelled as attention-seekers and all sort of things are thrown at them.

To quote Asif Iqbal who said Haider has let Pakistan down or here is Qadir having a go at youngster

Qadir, the former leg-spinner and selector, said: "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."

[from_the_stands]

Hmmm, I can't help but have doubts about this. The guy plays in a few internationals and then flees. Maybe he wants to play for England one day.

[amitb]

Hmmm, I can't help but have doubts about this. The guy plays in a few internationals and then flees. Maybe he wants to play for England one day.

So you think he made up this story ?

I wonder why would someone put an end to his intl career and chose to live in UK by making up things about threat to him and his family

[Aidan11]

He hasn't ruled out a return.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 170707.stm

[meninblue]

South Africa, India and other teams have got rid of most match fixers. The match fixing is still existing in matches involving Pakistan. The AUS-PAK test inquiry saw 7 players punished, ENG-PAK tests resulted in 3 bans and now Haider reveals the fixing in South Africa series. Pakistan cricket has become a joke. There is no point playing against such a team as every tour they go on relates to match fixing.

[keshto]

Hmmm, I can't help but have doubts about this. The guy plays in a few internationals and then flees. Maybe he wants to play for England one day.

So you think he made up this story ?

I wonder why would someone put an end to his intl career and chose to live in UK by making up things about threat to him and his family

Amit the problem is that a lot of people do make up stories.
I have no opinion yet on this as I am not sure what to make out of this.

I'll wait a bit and see how all this pans out.

By the way I am pretty sure there are threats made to cricketeers family and that Pakistan is in a very sad state. As I always say I feel for our brothers from Pakistan, the problems arising in cricket are just symptoms of a much deeper problem from which I don't see how Pakistan will get out off.

[mikesiva]

I've merged the two threads, guys....

Now, Zulqarnain says he will play for Pakistan if security issues are addressed. To me, it sounds like the rash actions of a naive, young man, who was frightened out of his skin, and acted instinctively. However, it's good to hear he doesn't want to sell out his principles, if his story is to be believed.

If the PCB wants to resurrect any shred of credibility, they need to rally around this talented young keeper, and show that they support cricketers who don't want to tank the game.