Pakistani wicketkeeper goes missing

Montse · November 8, 2010

Pakistan confirm wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has gone missing

• He leaves with passport ahead of fifth ODI against South Africa

• May have got threats after hitting winning runs in last match

Zulqarnain Haider celebrates taking a wicket during Pakistan's fourth ODI win against South Africa. Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images

Pakistan have confirmed that wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider disappeared with his passport ahead of today's deciding one-day international against South Africa in Dubai.

Reports this morning suggested Haider had received a threatening message after Pakistan did not lose the fourth ODI. Haider hit the winning runs on that occasion.

Team manager Intikhab Alam would not comment on the reasons for the keeper's no-show, but confirmed: "Haider did not come with the team to the ground and we are looking for him."

Some reports have suggested Haider may be bound for England, and Nadeem Sarwar, the Pakistan Cricket Board's general manager of media, told Cricinfo: "He took his passport from us last night on the pretext of needing it for something. It is normal practice for he could have needed it for any number of things.

"He did not say anything to the team management about this at all. We have initiated inquiries into the matter. The Anti-Corruption Support Unit [ACSU]has been informed and is being kept in the loop. Local security officials have also been alerted."

Captain Shahid Afridi said at ahead of today's toss: "He's resting, we're still trying to find him. Security is trying to trace him."

Raza Haider, Zulqarnain's brother, said the wicketkeeper added: "I spoke to Zulqarnain after the fourth ODI and he told me he had received some kind of threats after that game, but he gave no details."

Haider made 19 not out to win the fourth match for his side – with one ball to spare – and level the series at 2-2. He was then fined 12,000 rupees (£87), along with Shahzaib Hasan and Abdur Rehman, for breaking a team curfew.

Security has been provided for his family in Lahore, with senior superintendent of police Rana Faisal confirming: "We have deployed a dozen police officials at Haider's residence, so that they can be guarded properly if there is any threat."

Umar Akmal is deputising behind the stumps for today's game in one of three changes to the side, with Mohammad Yousuf and Hasan replacing Asad Shafiq and Imran Farhat. South Africa won the toss and are batting.

Grauniad

dave · November 8, 2010