Pakistan cricketer arrives in UK after Dubai no-show
Pakistan's Zulqarnain Haider celebrates after their victory over South Africa in the fourth one-day international cricket match in Dubai on 5 November 2010 As a debutant, Haider scored a half century against England this summer
Pakistan cricket faces a new crisis after wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider turned up in London after leaving the team camp in Dubai without permission.
The 24-year-old was earlier feared missing ahead of Monday's deciding one-day international against South Africa.
Haider's brother told the BBC that the cricketer had fled because he and his family had received death threats.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has is trying to clean up cricket in Pakistan, has launched an inquiry.
"He will definitely face an inquiry and disciplinary action whenever he contacts us. But we are concerned about this whole situation," said PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi.
A message posted on Haider's Facebook page said he had been sent messages asking him to lose Friday's one-day match against South Africa.
In an unbeaten 19, he hit the winning runs as Pakistan levelled the five-match series 2-2 in the fourth one-dayer.
But on Monday South Africa won the final one-day international against Pakistan to claim the series 3-2.
Haider was replaced as wicketkeeper for Monday's game by Umar Akmal, the brother of Kamran Akal, whose performance behind the stumps in the Sydney Test against Australia earlier this year is at the heart of an ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit investigation.
The PCB confirmed that it had passed details of Zulqarnain's disappearance to the ACSU.
"I have come here on my own expenses on a one-month visa," said Haider after arriving at Heathrow. "I will be staying at a hotel on my own expense."
Haider's disappearance is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the team.
Three other Pakistan cricketers are still under investigation after they were accused in August of taking part in a spot-fixing scam during a match in London.
Curfew breach
The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit has been made aware of the case and may wish to speak to Haider.
Haider was fined 12,000 rupees ($140; £86) on Sunday after allegedly breaking curfew hours imposed by the team management along with fellow players Shahzaib Hasan and Abdur Rehman.
Team manager Intikhab Alam told the BBC's Islamabad bureau that Haider had asked for his passport on Sunday night, saying he needed it to get a SIM card for his mobile phone.
The BBC's Shoaib Syed Hasan in Karachi says that the wicketkeeper's absence at the start of the final ODI sent shockwaves through the team.
Haider's older brother Aqeel, who lives in Lahore, said the wicketkeeper had received messages on his mobile phone threatening to kill him and target his family after the one-dayer against South Africa.
Haider's brother says the PCB knew of the threats and accused it of doing nothing about them.
He has now demanded a government inquiry into the matter.
'Full inquiry'
A PCB statement said: "Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the Pakistan team management.
"The PCB has informed Dubai police of the incident and also has brought it into the notice of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit."
The statement said a "full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no further comments will be made until the facts are known".
On Sunday the ICC said it had been impressed by the progress the PCB had made in working on an anti-corruption code.
BBC News - Pakistan cricketer arrives in UK after Dubai no-show
