Cricinfo - Players and Officials

Full name Faisal Iqbal
Born December 30, 1981, Karachi, Sind
Current age 26 years 209 days
Major teams Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Pakistan Reserves
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium
Relations Uncle - Javed Miandad

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

897

139

25.62

1977

45.37

114

ODIs

314

100*

22.42

519

60.50

First-class

125

198

7114

200

39.96

102

List A

110

100

3032

123

37.43

Twenty20

173

28.83

152

113.81

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

7.00

ODIs

11.00

First-class

125

138

1/6

98.00

4.26

138.0

List A

110

1/15

98.00

9.80

60.0

Twenty20

Career statistics

Test debut

New Zealand v Pakistan at Auckland, Mar 8-12, 2001 scorecard

Last Test

India v Pakistan at Bangalore, Dec 8-12, 2007 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut

Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Lahore, Feb 19, 2000 scorecard

Last ODI

Pakistan v West Indies at Multan, Dec 13, 2006 scorecard

ODI statistics

First-class debut

1998/99

Last First-class

Sind v Punjab (Pakistan) at Karachi, Mar 11-13, 2008 scorecard

List A debut

1997/98

Last List A

Habib Bank Limited v Pakistan International Airlines at Karachi, Apr 4, 2008 scorecard

Twenty20 debut

Lahore Lions v Karachi Dolphins at Karachi, Feb 24, 2006 scorecard

Last Twenty20

Karachi Zebras v Sialkot Stallions at Karachi, Dec 22, 2006 scorecard

Wisden overview
A gutsy strokeplayer with a sound defence and an attitude to boot, Faisal Iqbal is an exciting middle-order prospect for Pakistan. A prolific performer at junior level, Iqbal's elevation into the Test team was criticised on ground of nepotism - he is Javed Miandad's nephew. But he demonstrated that he was worth that Test cap with an aggressive counter-attacking 83 off 85 balls in the first Test against Australia in Colombo in 2002-03. He was particularly impressive against Shane Warne, using his feet superbly to seize the momentum for Pakistan, and he did it all with a swagger that was refreshingly reminiscent of his uncle. He couldn't repeat his performance in the rest of that series, or in the two Tests he played in South Africa in 2002-03.

A hiatus followed from the national side though he remained a performer at domestic level. It seems to have finally paid off when in 2005-06, on the back of an astonishingly successful domestic season, Iqbal was called up to play for Pakistan against India in his hometown of Karachi, as a replacement for the injured Inzamam-ul-Haq. A failure in the first innings meant pressure in the second was plentiful; it didn't seem to affect him as with some assured, trademark backfoot play and composed defence, he scored an attractive maiden Test hundred, eventually assuring Pakistan a comfortable win. He got another opportunity in the very next Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo and didn't disappoint; if his previous noteworthy innings had been attacking ones, here was a good, honest rearguard, as his 60 helped Pakistan see off Murali on the last day to secure an honourable draw. Soon after, at Lord's, he was called on to display similar traits to eke out another battling last-day draw.

Opportunities will continue to be present for Faisal, especially since the retirement of Inzamam and selectors looking for a long-term replacement.
Cricinfo Staff

Dec 12, 2007

Faisal Iqbal scored a counterattacking half-century © AFP

Dec 10, 2007

Ishant Sharma is delighted after dismissing Faisal Iqbal © AFP

Dec 9, 2007

Faisal Iqbal tries to avoid getting hit as Irfan Pathan drives © AFP

View the full list of 61 related images