“I will disclose names of ‘those involved with bookies’ after court hearing”: Haider

KARACHI - Pakistan’s runaway wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has declared that he will “disclose to the whole world the names of those involved with bookies” after his hearing, which is due on December 3.

“I am just waiting for my hearing as before that I cannot say much, as I am bound by laws… I will reveal everything,” The News quoted Haider, as saying.

“So much has been said about me that I have taken huge sums of money which is really annoying. Just wait for five days and I will disclose to the whole world the names of those involved with the bookies,” he added.

Haider said that he was furious over the criticism he had received over his move of leaving the team midway during the series against South Africa.

“Former players have criticised me on this stance without knowing the whole story. It is really frustrating that fingers are being raised at me. If I wasn’t time-bound because of my case, I would have unveiled the evil faces who are trying to dent the integrity of cricket just for their own purposes,” he said.

“I have a contract with my lawyer till the date of my hearing so I am just playing a waiting game. After that, I would be free to speak to media about the corruption in the game,” the keeper added.

Haider, who claimed receiving life threats after guiding Pakistan to victory against South Africa in the fourth One-day International, said that he had sacrificed his career for the goodwill of the game.

“My career was blossoming and my innings against South Africa turned me into a star which didn’t go well with those who wanted us to lose that match. I don’t know whether I will be to play again for Pakistan,” he said.

“Somebody had to take a step to stop this corruption in the game and I was brave enough to do that.

My only motive is to end the involvement of bookies in cricket to purify the game from the evil act of fixing. My family have received death threats which has left me so tensed but I will fight against it and if something happened to my family than government of Pakistan will be responsible for that,” the troubled player added. (ANI)