“They always wanted me to fail” Faisal Iqbal

“They always wanted me to fail”

 

It was at the C.C.C nets behind Nishat cinema when I saw Javed Miandad’s nephew for the first time. The 13-year-old boy rode on the reputation of his maternal uncle. He seemed to possess talent but so did others, though, what made him exceptional were the genes of the greatest batting icon Pakistan had ever produced. Due to his pedigree, Faisal Iqbal was special from day one.

The first major opportunity that came for boys his age was the 1996 U15 World Cup. Extensive trials were held across all provinces and the team selected showcased some of the best adolescent talent in the country.

Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Arafat, Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik came through the talent hunt while Bazid Khan s/o Majid Khan and Imran Qadir s/o Abdul Qadir also made it to the fray. From Karachi emerged the highly gifted Hasan Raza and team captain Faisal Iqbal. At first glance, Faisal appeared to be an astute leader with a good cricketing brain. The young team performed well, but eventually lost in the final at Lords to arch rivals, India.

From an early age kids understand how the parchee (recommendation) system works in Pakistan and embrace the dynamics of provincial and personal biases, it is an integral part of cricket’s sociopolitical culture that stretches across all levels of the sport in the country. The Pakistani youth is cultivated in this environment, while some manipulate and benefit from the prevalent climate, others just learn to live under it without much choice.

Faisal always came across as a bloke who had gotten a head start.

On his debut in New Zealand at the age of 19 he met with immediate success, scoring 42 in the first innings and 52 not out in the second. He followed that up with a 63 in his next innings but more importantly he had spent almost 10 hours at the crease in his first three Test innings, showing stomach for the big stage.

His dream start in international cricket did not last very long as his average quickly fell below par. Yet, he remained on the fringes of national selection through domestic success. Though, given his lineage, one usually assumed nepotism.

 

When there is a tough series, Faisal goes to bat at three. When there is an easy series, Faisal is the 12th man. It has always been this way.

He averaged in the mid twenties yet made it to the squad regularly. He appeared as excess baggage that Pakistan carried around, usually only sighted on tour at short leg or carrying drinks. It is baffling that he has been on the squad for most part of the last decade, but has played only 26 games.

With a decent young crop of middle-order batsmen recently unearthed in Pakistan, why do we still see Faisal’s name on the squad? If he was getting special treatment, why wasn’t he getting any games? His consistent selection and even more consistently being kept on the back burner displays an odd strategy adopted by Pakistan cricket, that is, if they have any.

So what’s Faisal’s side of the story? The 31-year-old batsmen tells all in an exclusive interview with Dawn.com

Hi Faisal, I hope it is not too late for you?

FI: Its 1:30 in the morning (in Lahore) but it is okay. When I am going on an assignment I try to adjust my biological clock according to the country I am touring. (It was 10:30 pm in Harare, Zimbabwe)

It is a very short tour with back to back games.

FI: Yes, that is how cricket has become. (For Pakistan)

You have been in and out of the team for almost 13 years; it’s a long time.

FI: The only reason I have been able to survive in this set up is my mental strength. I have put my head down and kept scoring in domestic cricket to keep my career alive. (Scoring 15,000 runs averaging over 40 in first class and List-A cricket)

Do you think you have done justice to your talent?

FI: Since I have made my debut, I have been kept as a replacement player. Usually been given single games in between long gaps; sometimes one game in 12 months. Plus, they played me at different batting positions all the time, how is a player meant to perform or settle? (Played in positions 3,4,5,6 and 7 in 26 games)

Why do you think you have not been given an extended run in the team?

FI: It has been a 99.9 % disadvantage in my career to be the nephew of Javed Miandad. There has been a lobby that has been against him from his playing and then his coaching days and continues to be so. I have just been an easy target and have gotten caught in political cross fire.

But there is a public perception that Faisal is selected because of Javed Miandad.

FI: Public follows the direction of the wind and maybe do not know that the poor guy has scored up to the throat in domestic cricket so he can be selected. I have been labeled all my life and it’s a tag difficult to get rid of. (Branding)

Does being from Karachi also affect you?

FI: Ninety per cent being Miandad’s nephew and 10% being from Karachi. Historically, every player from Karachi is affected, you know how it is, this is normal. (The provincial bias)

In so many years of international cricket, which has been your favourite innings?

FI: Surely the one against India, it was in Karachi and my century helped Pakistan win the Test match and the series, it is what is most important, for the team to win. It was also my comeback game after a break of three years. (His comeback ended during the series in England, his return lasted only eleven innings; 139, 2, 60, 5, 0, 48, 3, 29, 0, 11 and 58*)

My personal favourite was the courageous one against Australia, or Shane Warne rather.