Sports minister blasts Haider

Zulqarnain Haider, the Pakistan cricketer who retired from international cricket after receiving death threats, has been branded "weak" by his country's sports minister.

Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani's comments come after Haider sought refuge in London having fled the Pakistan team hotel in Dubai just hours before the fifth and final ODI against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates. Haider abandoned the squad after apparently receiving threats over his part in Pakistan's victory in the fourth ODI.

"The government will not support any move from Zulqarnain to get asylum in the UK," Jakhrani told reporters.

"We don't support his actions and believe he should have come to us if he was under threat from anyone. He didn't have confidence in the national team management or [Pakistan Cricket Board]."

Jakhrani added: "If he is such a weak and scared person he should not have played cricket in the first place, particularly not for the national team.

"This is not way for a member of the national team to behave or for even a professional cricketer to behave."

The Pakistan Cricket Board have launched their own inquiry into the events leading up to Haider's abscondment, and Jakhrani confirmed the government would be asking the PCB to submit a report on the incident.

"We don't want to interfere in the internal matters of the board but we certainly want to know why this has happened as it affects the image of the country," Jakhrani said.

"But no doubt this incident has disappointed us. Zulqarnain should have come to us for help."

The Haider story took another twist on Tuesday night when it emerged the player had told a television news channel he was prepared to play for his country again provided they could guarantee his safety.