Daily reveals Pak A captain was also party to Dubai freak-out

Lahore, May 10 (UNI) While the trio of Taufeeq Umar, Misbah-ul Haq and Zulqarnain Haider face PCB wrath after they were rescued from a Dubai lock-up, the new twist to the tale is Hasan Raza, who led Pak A to EurAsia Cup victory, was also part of the group which ignored the team management andf went for a freak-out.

Before the final against India A at Abu Dhabi, the Pakistan A team members, without permission from the team management, left for shopping in Abu Dhabi with a friend and three of them -- Taufeeq Umar, Misbah-ul Haq and Zulqarnain Haider -- were detained by Dubai Police for traffic offenece and according to report, liquor was found from their possession.

''The News'' revealed Hasan Raza, who was adjudged Man of the Match and Player of Series in the tournament, was also part of the group but the captain was in another car and that's how he evaded detention.

''The truth is that Hasan returned in another car with a friend and reached the team hotel in Abu Dhabi safely but Misbah, Taufeeq and Zulqarnain were travelling in another car with another friend and on their way to the hotel were detained by the police after two beer cans were discovered from the boot of the car,'' the daily quoted a source as saying.

''What is confirmed is that the players themselves were not drinking but their friend had consumed a couple of beers and when the police checked him out they became suspicious and inspected the boot where the cans were found. After which all four were sent to the Al-Zaba lock-up,'' the source said, adding that alcohol is banned in Abu Dhabi.

After spending a night in the lock-up, the players were finally rescued following hectic efforts by the team management and with help from the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council (ADCC).

''During their time in the lock-up they had to undergo blood and other tests as the police suspected them of also consuming some liquor. They were clean but remained behind bars as they didn't have their visas or other identification with them. The team management was also helpless as they had sent visas of all players to the travel agents for the return flight confirmations,'' the source said, adding, ''The visas were only obtained late evening after which the players were released.'' UNI XC PG AY RK1355