Dubai, Nov. 9: Cricket’s governing body on Tuesday called for more co-operation from international cricketers after Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider fled the team hotel here claiming he had received death threats.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said Haider’s case highlighted the importance of sharing corruption information.
“I think we have to build the confidence amongst the players that the right thing to do is to speak to the ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) officials if they have got anything that they want to declare,” Lorgat said.
The ICC formed the ACSU in 2001 a year after match-fixing scandals hit the game badly, ending in life bans on former captains Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Mohammad Azharuddin (India) and Salim Malik (Pakistan).
Pakistan cricket has been rocked by match-fixing and spot-fixing scandals. Their recent tour of England was marred by spot-fixing scandal, resulting in the provisional suspension of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohamad Asif.
Haider’s case once again highlighted Pakistan’s problems. Lorgat said Haider made a mistake by not informing the ACSU of the threats.
In Karachi, Pakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam said Haider did not inform the management about the threats he claimed to have received from a person who wanted him to fix the fourth and fifth ODIs against South Africa in Dubai.
“No he didn’t inform me or anyone in the management about what was going on. He didn’t come to us for help,” Intikhab said from Dubai.
Scotland Yard questions Haider
Karachi: Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who retired from international cricket under pressure of death threats for refusing to fix matches, was on Tuesday questioned by Scotland Yard and ICC Anti-Corruption & Security Unit in London in connection with his claims that he was approached by bookies.