Interview With Faisal Iqbal

Faisal Iqbal

Question: You've said in the past that you feel you've not had a consistent run in the Pak side, how many matches do you feel a player needs to establish themselves?

Faisal Iqbal: If a young player is able to come in and perform well in the first or second match then it shows that there is potential in the player. After that the youngster needs to be given a proper run in the side. He should get at least two full series before any further judgements are made. The young batsman should be given a long run at the same batting position at which he performed well in domestic tournaments. After getting such a run in the side, the player is able to showcase his full potential and utilize his talent. And in some unfortunate cases, if the player struggles after getting a long run then he has nothing to complain about because he has been given ample opportunity to succeed. I made my debut in 2001 as a replacement player. Since that time I haven't been given a consistent run in the side at the same batting position. At that time we had a strong batting order with Inzimam bhai, Younis bhai, and Yousuf bhai in the middle order. So at that time it was obviously difficult to get a consistent run. The only opportunities that I got were as a replacement player when one of the middle order batsman was unfit. In a sense I was fortunate to have played with those guys because I was able to learn a lot about batting by playing with them. I had the opportunity to play with them and practice with them in the nets. It was great to be able to practice with such great middle order players. I learned a lot from them and I thought I was being groomed to take a spot in the middle order once an opening was there.

Faisal Iqbal

Question: Do you think you deserve to be in the current Pakistani team? If so, why do you think you should be playing for Pakistan right now?

Faisal Iqbal : I think I should be in the team right now. I really don't have to say it myself because your performance and statistics speak for themselves. People who closely follow cricket can see the talent and know why the player is in the side. There is a right time for a player to be given a run in the side. I thought my time would be during the recent England tour but unfortunately I was dripped from the team at that point. If I had been give a consistent run in the six Tests that were played in England then I would have been able to fully display my talent. My previous opportunities had come in bit and pieces and I was hoping for a consistent run during the UK tour. I had thought that this would be a make or break series for me. Unfortunately I was dropped before getting any chance. Getting dropped was a great shock to me. I've always been considered a Test match specialist and I wasn't getting any consistent opportunity to prove myself. I was disappointed after being dropped from the Test side because I knew there was no way I would get a shot in the other two formats. I had spent my entire life preparing for Test cricket and hen to be dropped when you thought your time had finally come is very disappointing.

Faisal Iqbal

Question: You said that you have always been considered a Test specialist. But if you were given a chance in the other two formats, do you think you will be able to succeed?

Faisal Iqbal: The criteria for selection in Pakistan is performance in the domestic tournaments. To get selected in the ODI and T20 teams you have to do well in domestic T20 and one day matches. Nowadays domestic cricket is televised so people can see for themselves who is performing well. In the recent T20 tournament I played one of my best innings against the Sialkot Stallions. I single-handedly won that match for our team. It showed that I have the ability to play well in T20 matches. Having the ability to take singles and doubles is as important as hard hitting. I have shown that I have the ability to rotate the strike and also bat aggressively when the situation arises. My performance is there for all to see but now it's up to those people in charge to give me that opportunity to show it. So those people should be asked the question as to why a player is being ignored for a certain format even though he has performed well at the domestic level. I've been asking this question for a long time but never got the answer. So I concentrated on Test matches and was hoping to earn a chance in the limited overs side by doing well in Test matches. I'm only 29 years old and batsmen are playing cricket well into their thirties, so I still have time. Saying all this about myself is a bit weird but those who are in charge don't seem to realize it.

Faisal Iqbal

Question: You've played at various batting positions in your career. Which is your best batting position?

Faisal Iqbal: I'm a proper middle order batsman and middle order batsmen should be playing at number 4, 5, or 6. So I feel comfortable at any of those numbers. If you look at my record then you'll see that I have always been shuffled around the batting order. I recall a match in Bangalore in which I batted at number three in the first innings and then was pushed down to four in the second innings. In the second innings I scored over fifty runs. My statistics show that I have done well despite being continuously shuffled in the batting order. Such a player should be considered a diamond because he has done well at different positions. This player should have been properly groomed because he can deliver better results than those that have failed at that stage.

Faisal Iqbal

Question: How beneficial was the recent Pakistan A tour to the West Indies? How did it go for you?

Faisal Iqbal: I think it was very good because I learned a lot from that experience. Getting accustomed to the conditions and the different pitches in the West Indies is very useful. Overall, I did well in that series and a lot of other players also had a good tour. The important thing for me in that series was my performance in the one day and T20 matches. I did very well in those formats. I played a match winning knock in one of the matches. All these things should be considered when it comes to selection. The fact that I've never been considered for those formats even after very good performance has always remained a question mark. Other players have similar performances and are selected immediately. Why is Faisal Iqbal not treated that way?

Faisal Iqbal

Question: You seem to have a lot of problems and complaints about the current system.

Faisal Iqbal: I don't have many problems with the system. It's just a simple question of why I'm being ignored.

Faisal Iqbal

Question: You have captained Pakistan in all the lower levels. How has that experience been?

Faisal Iqbal : I'm very thankful of all those people who have given me the opportunity and have viewed me as a captain. I'm glad that I have done well as captain and haven't let those people down. I'm happy to have captained Pakistani teams staring from the under-15 side and going all the way to the A team. I've also captained all my domestic teams as well in all major tournaments. I've had success as captain but still am continuously ignored.

Faisal Iqbal

Question: We've noticed that the batsmen who make a comeback to the Pakistani side after a period away from the team continue to make the same mistakes. Their technical deficiencies are still the same. Why do you think they don't fix those flaws in domestic cricket? Is it poor coaching or has it become a part of their mentality?

Faisal Iqbal: Players have to develop their mentality by themselves. The player has to take responsibility for what is happening in the middle of the ground. In our culture we have to do everything by ourselves. In the English and Australian systems they have support in place for the players. When one of their players is dropped he goes back to the domestic coaches. The domestic coaches and the national coaching staff are in touch and can help the player figure out the errors. We don't have that system here. If our coaches discussed such issues then it would be very helpful to the players. But in the end it all comes down to the player. He has to take responsibility and try to work out his flaws. If the player continues to make the same mistakes after a few comebacks then the management should move onto a different player.

Faisal Iqbal

Question: You've been playing domestic cricket for quite some time. Who are some of the young talented players currently playing in the domestic circuit that can play for Pakistan?

Faisal Iqbal: Fahad Iqbal is a good upcoming batsmen. I'm not saying this because he's my brother. I've seen him play and he has the raw and natural talent to become a very good player. You can see that he has cricket in his genes and has the mentality of a good cricketer. I just hope that he gets selected based on merit and isn't treated the same way I have been treated. He can do very well if his talent is properly utilized.


Question: Thank you for giving us some time and it was a pleasure speaking with you. We wish you the best of luck in the future.

Faisal Iqbal: Thank you and it was a pleasure to talk with you.

Faisal Iqbal