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Missing in Dubai, found in London

Pakistan cricket fans were stumped for answers on Monday as their team’s wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider resurfaced in London after disappearing from Dubai before the deciding one-dayer against South Africa.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would probe the embarrassing incident, the latest controversy to hit the team after the spot-fixing scandal.

“The information shared with PCB by local authorities indicates that Haider has left UAE for United Kingdom. The PCB has informed Dubai Police of the incident and also has brought it to the notice of ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit,” the PCB statement said.

A post on Facebook, purportedly from Haider, fanned the early rumours. ‘‘Leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game”, the post had said.

The message left fans dazed and many wondered if he was referring to the ‘Pakistan Cricket’ fan page on the site, or to the team.

Back in the dressing room, the player’s absence was felt before the team practice session. “He went missing and we found out about this in the morning when getting ready to come to the stadium,” Nadeem Sarwar, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) media manager, told Khaleej Times. “Inquiries are under way. He has said something on his Facebook page but that is about it. Otherwise, he has not informed us,” Sarwar said.

Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam had nothing much to add. “I can’t make much comment on this, but can only confirm that Haider went missing and did not come to the ground with the other players.’’

“This morning Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the Pakistan team management. Zulqarnain was in possession of his passport at the time he left the hotel which he had taken from the management the previous evening for personal use,” the PCB said.

However, a source, who did not wish to be named, said the player had asked for his passport to purchase a SIM card.

It also emerged that the player was fined for breaking the team curfew on Sunday night after the win against South Africa.

This is the latest in a series of setbacks for the side, which comes just months after spot-fixing claims were raised against three players during the team’s tour of England.

Dubai Cricket Council official Mohammad Lokhandwala told Khaleej Times: “This is the first time I am hearing of such an incident in international cricket. It is quite embarrassing. Just when the Pakistan cricket seemed to be back on track, this incident happened.”

Abdul Salim, a 37-year-old Pakistan cricket fan from Dubai, said: “This is disappointing news. After the series were tied at 2-2, we had high expectations from the team. I don’t know what is happening to our team.”

Meanwhile, online discussion forums and social networks were abuzz after Geo TV broke the news early in the day.

A tweet by Nazia Bilal (@nlikeb) read: “What’s wrong with people? Zulqarnain Haider is trending because he is missing. It’s nothing to be happy about!”

Another user Zaheer Ahmed tweeted, “Is Zulqarnain Haider playing Hide n seek with PCB?”

As news of the incident started spreading, users around the world started sharing information on Twitter as he became a trending topic.

Users of PakPassion.net, the largest online Pakistani cricketing community posted sympathy messages for the cricketer.

“I hope he’s fine and somewhere safe, I’m actually quite worried for him now,” read a post by MK.

Haider, who has so far played one Test, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20s, made his international debut in a T20 match in South Africa in 2007.

His career, which began in 2003, was not without controversies. He was one of three Pakistani ‘A’ team players arrested in Abu Dhabi on charges of possessing alcohol in 2006. He was later released. — news@khaleejtimes.com