London, Aug. 9: Debutant Pakistan wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider has overcome personal anguish over his ill father to produce the innings of his life to give his team an outside chance of a shock victory over England in the ongoing second Test match at Edgbaston.
Haider, along with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Amir, led a dramatic revival on the third day on Sunday, as Pakistan reached 291-9 at stumps to take a surprise lead of 112 runs.
The 24-year-old’s father is admitted in a Pakistani hospital, where he is in a ‘stable condition’ with hepatitis C. “(Haider’s father) was a bit better, I hope and pray he comes through and that the stress goes for Zulq,” The Dawn quoted Salman Butt, Pakistan captain, as saying. “The last time I spoke to him he wasn’t that well, I don’t know about today,” he added. Haider was picked ahead of the out-of-form Kamran Akmal for the second Test.