Runaway former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider returned home from Britain on Monday after receiving government assurances about the safety of his family, witnesses said.
Runaway former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider returned home from Britain on Monday after receiving government assurances about the safety of his family, witnesses said.
Haider, who turned 25 on Saturday, fled the Pakistan team's hotel in Dubai on November 8 after saying he had received demands that he fix a one-day match against South Africa under threat of death.
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Haider arrived by plane in Islamabad and was escorted by security officials to Interior Minister Rehman Malik's office where he was to meet the minister, who had guaranteed his safety, officials said.
Wearing a casual shirt and jeans, Haider was whisked away by security officials to avoid a scrum at the airport, witnesses said.
Haider was part of the Pakistan team in the series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates when he went missing on the day of the fifth and final one-day match on November 8.
He fled for London and announced his retirement from international cricket. A week later he applied for asylum there.
Last week Haider met Malik and, after getting safety assurances for himself and his family, agreed to return home. He said he had also decided to withdraw his asylum request.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) terminated his contract and formed a committee to establish the facts surrounding his disappearance.
The three-member committee said there were no clear motives behind his disappearance and also declared him "mentally ill".
It was only after meeting Malik in London last week that Haider decided to return home, saying he was given full security assurances by the minister.
Last week he vowed to resume his career.
"Since I have been given full assurances of safety, I have no reason to continue with my asylum application and after returning home I want to resume my cricket career," he said last week.
Haider played one Test, against England at Birmingham last year, besides playing four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals in a short career.
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