Wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider wants to apply for political asylum in Britain, after fleeing the team - amid alleged threats for foiling a match-fixing conspiracy
Haider arrived in London on Monday and in an interview broadcast by Pakistan's GEO television network on Tuesday, he said he had discussed his status with immigration officials and "according to their rules, I will have to follow this procedure".
Haider would not identify who threatened him.
He said that he "was approached by one person who asked me to fix the fourth and fifth match and there would be problem for me if I did not do it".
The alleged threats came after he scored the winning run in the fourth ODI against South Africa on Friday to clinch victory for Pakistan.
- Haider arrived in England after mysteriously disappearing hours before the fifth and final one-day international against South Africa in Dubai.
"I have come here on my own expenses on a one month visa. I will be staying at a hotel on my own expenses," Zulqarnain told Geo news after spending nearly four hours with immigration authorities at Heathrow Airport.
"I will speak in detail on the reasons for my decision to leave Dubai and come to London later on," he said.
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.
THREATENING MESSAGES
His brother Reza told Reuters from Lahore 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 before adding his family was in touch with Zulqarnain and concerned about his safety.
"We would like to know a lot of things like why did the PCB management give him his passport, were they aware of the threats he had got?", Reza said.
The PCB said Zulqarnain had asked Pakistan officials for his passport.
"Zulqarnain was in possession of his passport at the time he left the hotel, which he had taken from the team management the previous evening for personal use," said the board.
Meanwhile, 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.
Zulqarnain has played one test, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games for Pakistan.
Pakistan cricketer seeks asylum in UK
Wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider wants to apply for political asylum in Britain, after fleeing the team - amid alleged threats for foiling a match-fixing conspiracy
Haider arrived in London on Monday and in an interview broadcast by Pakistan's GEO television network on Tuesday, he said he had discussed his status with immigration officials and "according to their rules, I will have to follow this procedure".
Haider would not identify who threatened him.
He said that he "was approached by one person who asked me to fix the fourth and fifth match and there would be problem for me if I did not do it".
The alleged threats came after he scored the winning run in the fourth ODI against South Africa on Friday to clinch victory for Pakistan.
"I have come here on my own expenses on a one month visa. I will be staying at a hotel on my own expenses," Zulqarnain told Geo news after spending nearly four hours with immigration authorities at Heathrow Airport.
"I will speak in detail on the reasons for my decision to leave Dubai and come to London later on," he said.
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.
THREATENING MESSAGES
His brother Reza told Reuters from Lahore 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 before adding his family was in touch with Zulqarnain and concerned about his safety.
"We would like to know a lot of things like why did the PCB management give him his passport, were they aware of the threats he had got?", Reza said.
The PCB said Zulqarnain had asked Pakistan officials for his passport.
"Zulqarnain was in possession of his passport at the time he left the hotel, which he had taken from the team management the previous evening for personal use," said the board.
Meanwhile, 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.
Zulqarnain has played one test, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games for Pakistan.
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