By CricketCountry Staff
Runaway Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider took a dig at the Akmal brothers, accusing them of wielding a huge clout in the Pakistan team in the backdrop of their 29-run defeat to India in the World Cup semifinal.
Published: Mar 31, 2011, 01:24 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 31, 2011, 01:24 PM (IST)
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By CricketCountry Staff
Karachi: Mar 31, 2011
Runaway Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider took a dig at the Akmal brothers, accusing them of wielding a huge clout in the Pakistan team in the backdrop of their 29-run defeat to India in the World Cup semifinal.
The gloveman revealed that one of the reasons for his leaving the national team was the harrassment meted out by Kamran Akmal’s younger brother, Umar Akmal. “Umar Akmal used to say things to me after which I decided to leave the team. No one is allowed to settle into the team unless they are supported by a group and that is what happened to me.
“Players are not allowed to settle into the team if they don’t go along with a group,” he told the Dunya news channel in an interview.
Haider said that some players retain their place in the side despite non-performance if they are supported by a group. “That is the reason why Kamran is still in the team despite poor performances. No other keeper would be retained in the team if he dropped the number of catches Kamran has dropped,” he added.
He was not surprised by Pakistan’s semifinal exit. “I’m not surprised by the defeat because they are groups operating in the team and they don’t allow any player to settle down unless he succumbs to them. The same thing happened to me,” he added.
Haider fled the Pakistan team hotel in Dubai last November during a one-day series against South Africa for and later claimed that he fled after being threatened by a person who wanted him to be part of a fixing racket.
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