LONDON: Zulqarain Haider admitted on Wednesday that he fled to London because the wicketkeeper feared he and his family were in severe danger following an alleged match-fixing plot.
Haider held a press conference at a restaurant in Southall in London on Wednesday to reveal more about his controversial decision to quit Pakistan's one-day series against South Africa in Dubai.
The 24-year-old repeated his claims that he had received death threats after hitting the winning runs in Friday's fourth one-day match and explained how he had been approached to fix the result of that match and Tuesday's fifth game.
“It was very hard for me when I got threats from one person in Dubai,” he said. “I just felt very nervous that he gave me threats.”
Haider described the ultimatum he had been given, though insisted he did not know the identity of the person issuing the threat.
“He said, 'If you work with us, we will give you a lot of money,” Haider said. “'If (not and) you go back home, we will kill you and your family'.”
Confirming he believed he was being asked to throw the fourth and fifth ODI, Haider added: “I think they were interested to 'book' me for the fourth and fifth ODI.”
Haider arrived in England on Monday and immediately claimed asylum in order to gain entry to the country.
He said: “This country is very humane, very co-operative, and there are very nice people here and there are very good rules here for my safety. That's why I came here.”
However, Haider insisted he had no intention of claiming asylum permanently, adding: “I don't want any aid from the British government. I want to be a good citizen and I am a good citizen also in Pakistan. I want to live in peace.”
Haider revealed he had a meeting at Pakistan's High Commission in London on Wednesday and he said: “I wish they will protect my family because I have two daughters and a wife, so I want to be safe.”
Haider also confirmed he had met the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit.
“I just want cricket to be clear of any fixing and all bad things. The ICC's doing well in these things,” he said.
Explaining why he had chosen to flee Dubai rather than taking his concerns to the Pakistan Cricket Board, Haider said: “I didn't want to explain all things to my management because if I tell them, maybe it would create problems for my team-mates and my management.”
Haider insisted he had no knowledge of any other players being involved in match fixing or if they had been approached like him.
He added: “I think the best way is to record all the players' phones and all their activities.”
Haider has faced accusations he did take a bribe but said: “Check all my accounts around the world.”
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