Threats claim as Pakistan cricketer flies to England

Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has arrived in England after mysteriously disappearing hours before the fifth and final one-day international against South Africa in Dubai.

Television pictures clearly showed Zulqarnain arriving at Heathrow Airport yesterday afternoon.

Earlier, Pakistan's team management said the keeper was last seen at the team's hotel in Dubai early in the morning.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Zulqarnain had not informed them he was planning to leave the hotel nor had he told them the reason for his sudden decision.

"A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no further comment will be made until the facts are known," the PCB said in a statement.

In a message on his Facebook account, Zulqarnain appeared to suggest he was worried about his personal safety after receiving threats.

"Leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad messages for lose the match in last game," he wrote.

Pakistan officials reported Zulqarnain's disappearance to the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security unit, as well as local police.

The 24-year-old scored an unbeaten 19 and hit the winning runs as Pakistan levelled the five-match series 2-2 in the fourth one-dayer on Friday.

His brother Reza claimed yesterday that Zulqarnain had expressed fears after receiving threatening messages.

"The last time I spoke to him he told me he was getting threatening messages after the fourth match and to pray for him," said Reza.

PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi said that Zulqarnain had breached his central contract. "He will definitely face an inquiry and disciplinary action whenever he contacts us. But we are concerned about this whole situation," said Rizvi.

Lahore police official Rana Faisal said they were investigating Zulqarnain's disappearance. "We have received no official complaint but, taking note of media reports, we have sent some officers to his house (in Lahore] to find out details," Faisal said.

Zulqarnain has played one test, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has denied suggesting a one-day international against Pakistan in 2007 was fixed, saying his comments were taken out of context. "There is absolutely no foundation to this story whatsoever.

Quite simply, my comments were taken out of context and I have never accused anybody of anything illegal," said Arthur.

The Pakistan Cricket Board served a legal notice on Arthur after South African website News24 quoted him as saying he had "strong suspicions" of match-fixing.