Zulqarnain Haider appeals for privacy

LONDON: Pakistan cricketer Zulqarnain Haider appealed to the media the other day to respect his privacy and give him time to prepare his legal case for his stay in Britain.
Haider applied for asylum on November 8 as soon as he arrived from Dubai after deserting the national team on grounds that his life was on danger from criminals who wanted to recruit him for match-fixing during the ODI series against South Africa.
He was called to the Home Office two days later to give a full account on why he should be given asylum in Britain. He is currently awaiting a decision.
“Since his departure from Dubai, there has been much speculation and conjuncture which has been banded about by some aspects of the media, in due course Mr Syed will resist such and provide his account,” Natasha Malik, who now represents the player, told ‘The News’.
Trough his solicitor, Zulqarnian thanked the UK authorities for the “kindness” shown towards him since his arrival.
“I am naturally upset at the fact that I’m away from my family and have greatly missed them,” Zulqarnain added in his statement.
It has also been reported that Zulqarnain will be holding a meeting with English club Lashings early next week to discuss his inclusion for their all-star squad and Lashings chairman David Folb said he was clearly optimistic over that matter. But Zulqarnain’s inclusion in the team entirely depends on what decision of the Home Office.
He can only be paid for his services once he is granted asylum or else he will have to wait for a year before his legal team can apply on his behalf for national insurance number to take up a paid job.
Zulqarnain’s case doesn’t fit the usual criteria of asylum seekers and the conditions which must be ticked for a successful application. Western countries rely on Article 1 of the 1951 Refugee Convention which clearly defines a refugee as “a person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution.”