26 April,2011 08:04 AM IST | | AFP
Runaway former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider returned home from Britain yesterday after receiving government assurances about the safety of his family.
Haider, who turned 25 on Saturday, fled the Pakistan team's hotel in Dubai on November 8 for the United Kingdom after saying he had received demands that he fix a one-day match against South Africa under the threat of death.
Runaway Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider is escorted by
guards upon arrival in Islamabad yesterday. Pic/AFP
He was escorted by security officials to Interior Minister Rehman Malik's office where he met the minister, who had guaranteed his safety.
"I am happy to return. There were solid reasons behind my going to London and I am sure everyone realised that no one can put his career at stake for nothing," Haider told reporters after the meeting.
With his younger daughter on his lap, Haider added: "I am happy the way I was given full security. I want to spend some time with my family and then meet PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) chairman (Ijaz Butt) which I will share with you."
"Haider will be given full security as promised," Malik said. "He is a citizen of Pakistan so there is no restriction on his movement. He has told us some facts which at this point of time we cannot share with the media."
Wearing a casual shirt and jeans, Haider was earlier whisked away by security officials to avoid a scrum at the airport, where he also met his wife, daughters and brother, witnesses said.
The wicketkeeper was part of the Pakistan team in the series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates when he went missing on the day of the fifth and final one-day match on November 8.
He fled to London and announced his retirement from international cricket. A week later he applied for asylum there. Last week Haider met Malik and, after receiving promises of safety for himself and his family, agreed to return home.
After meeting Malik last week, Haider also said he would return to cricket. "Since I have been given full assurances of safety, I have no reason to continue with my asylum application and after returning home I want to resume my cricket career," he said.
