Zulqarnain Haider announces retirement

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who fled to London midway through a series against South Africa in the UAE after receiving death threats for refusing to fix matches, today announced his retirement from international cricket.

Haider told the 'Geo News' channel from London that he had taken the decision to retire since there was lot of pressure on him and he was getting threats from the people, who had wanted him to fix matches in the just concluded one-day series against South Africa in the UAE.

"My family is also still getting threats. I have decided to retire because there is lot of pressure on me and I can't take it," he added.

Haider left the team hotel in Dubai yesterday in mysterious circumstances and flew to London with the Pakistan Cricket Board later announcing it would be holding an inquiry into the whole matter.

"I will be sending a letter to the PCB to inform them about my decision to retire," he said.

Haider also confirmed that the person who approached him to fix matches had met him outside the team hotel and that he got a feeling that there were others with him.

"You will get lot of money if you cooperate with us but if you don't cooperate with us you wouldn't remain in the team and there will lot of problems for them."

Asked about reports that he was planning to take political asylum in the United Kingdom, Haider declined to to comment.

"I think you should speak to the immigration authorities about this but I have decided nothing as yet."