Pakistan keeper goes AWOL

Dubai - Pakistan wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider has gone missing from the team's hotel in Dubai and did not come to the ground for Monday's One-Day International against South Africa, team manager Intikhab Alam said.

"I can't make much comment on this, but I can only confirm that Haider did not come with the team to the ground and we are looking for him," Alam told reporters.

The 24-year-old Haider was fined 500 dirhams (136 dollars) on Sunday after he broke curfew hours imposed by the team management.

Haider scored a match-winning 19 not out to help Pakistan win the fourth one-day International played here on Friday which levelled the five-match series 2-2.

The fifth and final match will be played on Monday.

Haider sent a SMS text message to a Pakistani journalist and posted a message on his Facebook page which both read: "leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game."

Haider's family members told a local channel in Pakistan that they had no new information about him but that they were worried about his welfare.

Pakistan Cricket Board media spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar said Dubai police had been informed.

"Haider had taken away his passport from the team management on Sunday night and we have reported the matter of him missing to the Dubai Police and to the ICC's (International Cricket Council) Anti-corruption Unit," Sarwar told reporters.

In Pakistan, Senior Superintendent of Police Rana Faisal said security was provided for Haider's family in Lahore.

"We have deployed a dozen police officials at Haider's residence, so that they can be guarded properly if there is any threat," Faisal told local media.

Haider's career, started in 2003, is not without controversies. He was one of three Pakistani players arrested in Abu Dhabi on charges of possessing alcohol in 2006. The players, on tour with Pakistan 'A' team, were later released.

He made his international debut in a Twenty20 match in South Africa in 2007 before being discarded.

Haider replaced out of form Kamran Akmal during the England tour and made a gritty 88 in his first Test at Birmingham in September before he injured his finger and was sent back home.

He has so far played one Test, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 for Pakistan.