Born in Karachi on December 30, 1981 Faisal Iqbal is a right-handed batsman from Pakistan. He is one of the heavy-weights in Pakistan’s domestic structure with over 10000 runs to his credit. He has played over 180 first-class games with more than 20 centuries and 50 fifties.

Faisal’s Test match debut came against New Zealand at Auckland in March 2001 and he made a very good impression straightaway with a 42 in the first innings and then an unbeaten 52 in the second innings. Pakistan went on to win the match by a whopping 299 runs.

His second Test match at Christchurch was even better. Coming in at the fall of two early wickets in response to a huge first-innings New Zealand total, Faisal contributed 63 on his way to adding over a 100 runs for the third wicket to steady the ship.

He was in and out of the side for a while with poor form. But January 29, 2006 was a different story. Faisal brought up his maiden Test hundred in the second innings against India at Karachi and helped his side win the 3-match series 1-0 as Pakistan outsmarted India, even after being 6/39 at one stage in the first innings. It also happens to be the only time that Faisal crossed the three figure mark.

The conversion rate was always a problem with him and was out of the side a few years later scoring just 8 fifties in 44 innings. He was then recalled to the side when Pakistan toured South Africa in 2013, but didn’t get to play a game and he has not featured in any of Pakistan's games since then. He has represented many domestic sides and was also signed by Bangladesh Premier League side Sylhet Royals.

The 50-over format was not that great for Faisal Iqbal though he started ODIs playing before his Test debut in 2000. He has managed only one hundred, a 100 not out against Zimbabwe in his 18 ODIs that he has featured.

Faisal Iqbal is the nephew of Javed Miandad and elder brother of Fahad Iqbal who is also a cricketer.

by Ramakrishnan - March 2014