Haider yet to reach hometown Lahore due to security issues

Haider told the media in Islamabad that he has still not been given security clearance to go to Lahore.

"I am staying in Islamabad because the authorities are yet to clear me to go to Lahore. I am hopeful that in a few days time I will be able to travel to Lahore and try to meet with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials," said Haider.

Haider fled the team hotel in November last year during Pakistan's One-day series against South Africa and landed in London. After reaching London he claimed that he was threatened by an unknown person for not co-operating in fixing the series.

The keeper returned to Pakistan this week on the reassurances given by interior minister -- Rehman Malik.

Haider said he was keen to get back to Lahore as soon as possible because he wanted to respond to the PCB charges against him and get clearance to play domestic cricket again.

"I think it is the responsibility of the Punjab government to provide me proper security in Lahore," he said.

The Police in Sialkot today presented four bookmakers in a magistrate's court and officially pressed charges against them.

They had arrested eight members of a bookmakers gang from the Sambrial area yesterday and later said the gang was also involved in making threatening calls to Haider using different international sims.

Chief selector Mohsin Khan has said if the board cleared Haider to play first-class cricket, the selectors would consider him for national selection.

"If the board clears him and if he performs well in domestic cricket he will be under consideration for future tours. But first he must be cleared to play by the board," Mohsin said.