Haider in secret location, yet to meet parents

Pakistan's controversial wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider yesterday said he was yet to meet his parents as he and his family were kept under the government's protection in a "secret location" in Islamabad.

"I am yet to get the security clearance and then only I shall be allowed to leave for home in Lahore," said Haider who returned to Pakistan on Monday after being in hiding in the UK since November last year.

Zulqarnain Haider

"I fear for my life. I returned to Pakistan on government's advice and if I am killed, the government would be responsible.

"I am not allowed to go out in public. I am not even allowed to disclose the location to my other family members.

"At present I am staying with my wife and two children and younger brother Shuja. Yes, I spoke to my father.
He cried when he heard my voice.

"He has been sick and was hospitalised recently. I don't know when I would be able to see my ill father."

Haider flew to Britain midway through a series in Dubai last year, claiming that he received threats after refusing to participate in fixing.

Haider denied naming teammate Kamran Akmal or Mohammad Iliyas, the latter's father-in-law, in the context of match-fixing.

"I wonder why and how the names of Kamran Akmal and his father-in-law Mohammad Iliyas came into picture. I never named them in public and wonder why Iliyas should drag me to court," he said.u00a0Haider didn't say whether he "named" any players to Rehman Malik, the country's Interior Minister.

Iliyas reportedly has issued filed a defamation case against Haider, demanding Rs 10 crore as compensation.