Pakistan committee says runaway player 'weak'

A fact-finding committee looking into Pakistan cricketer Zulqarnain Haider's sudden flight to England, saying he had received death threats to influence matches, called him mentally "weak". The investigation's report, a copy of which was obtained by AFP Saturday, also accused Haider, 24, of making plans to move to England earlier -- claims the former Test wicket-keeper threatened to challenge in the court. Pakistan cricket was already embroiled in a controversy over spot-fixing when Haider, 24, suddenly left the team's Dubai hotel for London on November 8, the morning of the fifth and final one-day game against South Africa. Haider said he received death threats from unknown people to influence match results for money. He instantly announced his retirement from international cricket and sought political asylum in Britain. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) terminated Haider's contract and formed a three-man fact-finding committee headed by team manager Intikhab Alam. The committee, which submitted its report to the PCB earlier this month, concluded Haider was a "complex personality". "It may be noted that the views of some of the support staff about Haider were that he is a complex personality," said the report. "He is a person who is easily convinced into believing whatever is said to him. He is also stated to be a weak nerves person." It added: "Some close associates of Haider, when contacted in UK, advised that during his last visit to UK with Pakistan team this summer, he had made enquiries on settling down in UK. "It is difficult to say with complete confidence at this stage as to what were the motives (behind the departure)," it said. Haider fumed at the document's claims. "I want a copy of the report," Haider wrote on his page on the social networking website Facebook. "By declaring me a weak and nervous person and questioning my state of mind the fact finding committee has indulged in my character assassination and I reserve the right to take legal action against the PCB. "Are people like Rashid Latif, Sarfaraz Nawaz who talked against match-fixing also mentally weak people and I am also against match fixing. I salute them," wrote Haider. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the PCB's patron and had ordered a thorough investigation of the matter, was also sent a copy of the committee report.