Karachi, July 31: Pakistan”s reserve wicketkeeper Zulfqarnain Haider escaped punishment despite revealing details of his fitness problems on a social networking site. Haider”s admittance of his fitness problems assumed significance in light of the poor performance of Kamran Akmal behind the stumps on the first two days of the first Test against England in Nottingham.
With Akmal dropping catches, missing a stumping and fumbling several times and also getting out cheaply, there is increased pressure on the national selectors and the touring team management to give Haider a chance to make his debut in the second Test in Birmingham from August 6. Haider wrote on his profile page on Facebook that he had hurt himself during practice and was in pain.
But when contacted, the youngster denied he had seriously injured his finger. “It was a minor thing and I am fit now and if I get a chance to play in the second test I will definitely grab the chance happily,” he said. Haider said he had been constantly training with the Pakistan team on tour and was ready for the big test.
“I am 100 per cent fit and not injured. I can play whenever they call me up,” he stated. He also pointed out that he had made his remarks on Wednesday, a day before the first Test began.
The assistant manager of the Pakistan team Shafqat Rana said Haider should have been more careful. “Anyone is free to have his account on facebook and we can”t stop that. But definitely players who have facebook accounts must realise they should avoid writing on team matters or such issues that affect the team,” Rana said. But he ruled out any disciplinary action against Haider.
——–PTI