Faisal Iqbal accuses PCB of victimisation

Javed Miandad's nephew Faisal Iqbal has accused the PCB of unfairly targeting him after being left out of the team that will play six tests in England this summer. "I'm really disheartened," Faisal told the News. "They have given me the shock of my life by discarding me without any due reason. It's pure victimisation and nothing else."

Faisal last played for Pakistan on the disastrous tour of Australia, where he averaged 24.25 in the first two Tests before being replaced for the third Test. His exclusion from the England tour has left him disheartened and he claimed his shabby treatment would serve as a deterrent to young players coming through the system.

"I've played as a replacement player for the last nine years," he said. "I've scored even in difficult conditions though the chances I was given were few and far between. I'm young and fit and have matured now but they have just discarded me without any fault of mine. Such treatment of players like me, who are loyal to their country, will dishearten the next generation of cricketers."

He also argued that he turned down lucrative contract offers from the ICL because of his love for his country, unlike some of the players named in the squad. "I just wanted to play for my country and give my best for it." Faisal has played 26 Tests for Pakistan since making his debut in 2001 against New Zealand, averaging a tad under 27 with one century and eight half-centuries