LAHORE: Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Zulqarnain Haider expressed his desire to play the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup in India and propel his side to glory.
Zulqarnain Haider, in an interview with a local news outlet here, shared that he wants to end his cricketing career by playing a World Cup and winning it for his country.
“As I said earlier, it is my ultimate to play at least one world cup regardless of what happens. I would work hard for it and by the will of Almighty Allah I’ll win it for the team,” said Haider.
“And after that, I will bid farewell to cricket,” he added.
The wicketkeeper batter also spoke on his competition with Pakistan’s first-choice wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who is among runs since making his return to the national team and is currently the second-ranked T20I batter, Zulqarnain stated that anyone can get an opportunity.
“Look, all the wicketkeepers are alike so whoever performs will play in the national team. Like Mohammad Rizwan did not perform in the World Cup and got dropped for the next couple of series, some new wicketkeepers were given a chance after they performed well in the PSL but they could not perform at the international level because the pressure is different,” said Zulqarnain Haider.
“So, that’s why I believe anyone can get an opportunity at any time. If Rizwan does not perform in the Asia Cup and I managed to perform in domestic cricket and become the best wicketkeeper then it would be my right to be selected and play and I will play with all my will,” he added.
Zulqarnain Haider also provided an update regarding his fitness, notably, the wicketkeeper batter suffered a severe abdominal infection and underwent surgery, which resulted in stagnating his health and financial conditions.
It is pertinent to mention here that Zulqarnain Haider represented Pakistan in eight international matches from 2007 to 2010 before putting a controversial end to his brief career as he left the national team overnight during the Dubai tour.