Faisal to lead Pakistan ‘A’ (Dawn news)

KARACHI, Aug 15: Test batsman Faisal Iqbal will lead Pakistan ‘A’ in next month’s home series against Australia ‘A’, it was learnt on Wednesday.

Faisal, the 25-year-old right-hander who has played in 18 Tests and as many One-day Internationals, is the nephew of batting legend Javed Miandad.

Australia ‘A’ are led by all-rounder Adam Voges. The squad also includes experienced Test leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, Phil Jacques, Cameron White and David Hussey, who is the younger brother of Test left-hander Michael Hussey.

The series starts from Sept 4 with the first of the three one-day matches at Lahore on Sept 4. The remaining limited-overs games are scheduled for Sheikhupura on Sept 7 and again in Lahore on Sept 9.

The first four-day ‘Test’ takes place at Rawalpindi from Sept 12 while the second game begins from Sept 19 at Lahore.

Any release on the rest of the squad members?

Hes actually played 18 tests, more than I thought. Looks like a very strong Aussie team

So Imran Farhat has pretty much counted himself out of contention for the A squad, which I think he would have made. A good series against Australia A and he would have been seriously considered for the Test series against South Africa.

Brilliant news.
It means that he isn't available for the main team's selection.

Not at all. The last test ends on Sept 23rd and the S.A series starts on Oct 1st. If Faisal even scores a single half-century, expect to see him in the squad. In fact he'll have an advantage because the selectors will think that he has some match practice under his belt.


Personally I hope he manages 7 ducks on the trot.

Surprisingly, that took a little while longer then I expected, to see something like that!

Is it an Australian A team tour of Punjab or Pakistan?

What does Hasan Raza to do to lose captaincy?

Faisal outweights Hasan in all areas when it comes to captaincy! Faisal was born to be a leader! Few more years & we might see him replace Malik as the new captain of Pakistan!

yup. now only if he could learn to bat.

Pakistan had better select a strong all round squad, otherwise this could turn into a very one sided and embarassing series.

I'd like to see some of the guys like Asim Kamal, Razzaq, Hasan Raza, Mansoor Amjad etc given a chance.

I think it's more important to give some of our fringe players some exposure rather than worry about results. This is the type of XI I'd go with:

1) Khurram Manzoor
2) Khalid Latif
3) Shahid Yousuf
4) Faisal Iqbal (He's captain so I guess he has to play right?)
5) Fawad Alam
6) Adnan Raza
7) Sohail Tanvir
8) Sarfraz Ahmed
9) Abdur Rehman
10) Najaf Shah
11) Mohammad Irshad

Glorious! Pakistan's losses against Australia (not to say that I hope they win, but come on) will be and should be blamed on Bhanja and then he will be lost forever. Boohoo.

Btw, Shahid Yousuf at three? I dunno. Where's Afaq Raheem. What about Hasan Raza? Surely he can make the A team?

I'd have Afaq Raheem in the squad but the other 2 just about win the opening slot over him. I'd also have Raza at 4 instead of Faisal, but we all know that ain't gonna happen.



Oh and by the way, you're already predicting our losses eh? ''Not to say that I hope they win, but come on.''

Aren't you the same guy who said our under 19 batting stinks and there was no way we're gonna chase 340? Oh and didn't you eat your words later? What's with you?

I am a pessemist so I don't hurt myself when things go wrong

Hasan Raza was the captain of A! He scored so many hundreds at 4. How can he be be left out, let alone lose captaincy!?

Dont know why Faisal has become such a big scapegoat. I know he cant play short pitch bowling but PAK can use his services for matches in sub continent.
Any one remember his 80 odd against AUS?

This should be a very interesting tour. How players perform will have real impact on our national team lineup in the near future.

I will keep asking this until I am answered:

Why was Hasan Raza removed from captaincy?

Because the selectors chose Faisal Iqbal over him. The reason for that could be that (a) they believe Iqbal is more suitable for the job or (b) there were some extenuating circumstances which forced their hand.

That was the only innings of note hes played in the first innings of a test match. If thats the only noteworthy first innings score that we can remember in 18 test matches, alarm bells should be ringing!

I think Pakistan should pick top 30 players based on merit, and give central contract to them. Then among those top 30, they should pick best 15 for Pakistan national, and remaining 15 for Pakistan A. Pakistan A should be used to provide backup for national team and allow players to staying in cricket and bring out of form talented players back into form.

Now we will see many contracted players will not be even selected for Pakistan A team, then whats the point giving contracts to them. If selectors think there are better and more deserving youngsters to be considered for Pakistan A team then why did they give contract and monthly retainers to some of the players, who can't even make into Pakistan A.

I think its all BS. Rather selectors use this as a way to push some one out of 15 players for national team and allow room for others. Now what selectors will do, they will pick Faisal as Pakistan A captain, and then will not select Inzi for national team and will go and pick someone else ahead of Faisal as Inzi substitute, and will issue a statement that Faisal was already selected to lead Pakistan A therefore so and so got into national team. all BS

Faisal Iqbal

Average 25.77, 1 century, 5 half centuries
32 innings
So 6 good innings out of 32 which means he is sh1te 81% of the time




True he averages 51 in pakistan with the highest score of 139.
He has only played two other innings however and they were 5 and 9.

Wazeeri and Daoud,

I am not a big fan of his batting either and would rather have Asim Kamal or Afridi in my team but if Yousuf and Inzi can't make it then he automatically becomes a serious contender for the #5 slot.

Then poor guys who continue to prove themselves on the domestic scene like Misbah and Raza rarely get a chance! I get that Misbah is old but Raza? He is only 26!

Not at all. If Inzi and Yousuf don't make it then our order will almost certainly look like this:

3) Hameed
4) Younis
5) Malik
6) Afridi


Faisal wouldn't/shouldn't make it even with our top 2 batsmen missing.

Just as long as he doesn't play for Pakistan.. its all good!

Sorry if I may sound nationalist, but I can assure you there is no way Pakistan selectors will go with 4 players with NWFP background (Hameed, Younis, Afridi and Gul) in playing eleven.

If you look at the selection trends for last couple of years, they don't even select more than 3 players from NWFP among 15 players.

yes i agree with u easa

27 players been asked to join camp which ll start from 28th Aug

Faisal Iqbal (c)
Taufeeq Umar
Hassan Raza
Khalid Latif
Riffat ullah
Asim Kamal
Yasir Hameed
Navid LAteed
Shahid Yousuf
Adnan Raza
Sohail Tanveer
Mansoor Amjad
Atif Maqbool
Zoaib Khan
Tahir Khan
Sarfraz Ahmad
Zulqarnain Haider (wk)
Mohd Sami
Junaid Zia
Mohd Khalil
Mohd Irshad
Abdul Rauf
Anwer Ali
Rizwan Ahmad
Shoaib Khan
Najaf Shah
Aziz ul Haq

Source Jang New website

Oh thank god! Oh thank god!

Hassan Raza is there. SWEET PEARLS! And so is Anwar Ali! AWSOME! This would be my team:

Taufeeq Umar
Rifatullah Mohammad/Khalid Latif
Yasir Hameed
Hasan Raza
Faisal Iqbal*
Shahid Yousuf/Adnan Raza
Zulqarnain Haider
Mansoor Amjad
Najaf Shah
Mohammad Sami
Anwar Ali/Rizwan Ahmed(Akbar?)

Of course, I would rather play Asim Kamal then Faisal or try and play both Adnan and Shahid but since Mr. Kaptaan is Faisal, we gotta make adjustments.

Khurram Manzoor not there. A contracted player. How odd?

Maybe he's not there BECAUSE he's contracted. Maybe they want to play him against SAF.

No he has a wrist injury; he'll be reconsidered around the time of the training camp.


27 probables for Pakistan A announced

Cricinfo staff

August 21, 2007

Mohammad Sami, Asim Kamal and Yasir Hameed were named in the list of 27 probables for the Pakistan A training camp to be held in Lahore from August 28 as preparation for the series against Australia A.

Another Test player, Faisal Iqbal, will lead the side in a series which includes three limited-overs games and two four-day matches, beginning from September 5. Khurram Manzoor, the promising young opener, is sidelined with a wrist injury but will undergo a fitness test on August 31.

Four of the probables - Iqbal, Hasan Raza, Kamal and Tahir Khan - may not be available for the Mohammad Nissar trophy match against Mumbai as a result of their possible participation in this series. Kamal may not be available at all as he is considering an offer from the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

The series begins with a limited-overs match in Lahore, then in Sheikhupura on September 7 and back in Lahore the next day. The two four-day matches are scheduled for Faisalabad from September 12 and Lahore from September 19.

Probables: Faisal Iqbal (capt), Taufiq Umar, Khalid Latif, Riffatullah Mohmand, Asim Kamal, Hasan Raza, Yasir Hameed, Naved Latif, Shahid Yousuf, Adnan Raza, Sohail Tanvir, Mansoor Amjad, Atif Maqbool, Zohaib Khan, Tahir Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulqernain Haider, Mohammad Sami, Junaid Zia, Mohammad Khalil, Mohammad Irshad, Abdur Rauf, Anwar Ali, Rizwan Ahmed, Shoaib Khan, Najaf Shah, Uzair-ul-Haq

© Cricinfo




I don't understand why Sami and Hameed have been included as they're both members of the senior squad. We could have easily tried some new faces instead. Anyways since their in the probables then they may as well be selected for the final squad. Keeping that in mind, heres my XI and squad for both teams.

1) Khalid Latif
2) Yasir Hameed
3) Shahid Yousuf
4) Hasan Raza
5) Faisal Iqbal
6) Asim Kamal
7) Sarfraz Ahmed
8) Mohammad Sami
9) Anwar Ali
10) Tahir Khan
11) Najaf Shah


12) Mohammad Irshad
13) Sohail Tanvir
14) Adnan Raza
15) Khurram Manzoor (if fit)



It's very interesting that Fawad Alam didn't get picked considering that he doesn't have a contract. Does that mean that he's a certainty for the senior squad? And since Misbah hasn't been selected and he has a contract, then does that mean that he will definitely be a part of the squad? Interesting developments...

Mohammed Hafeez & Hasan Raza should be part of Pakistan A. Strange!

Hafeez is in Kenya for the twenty/20 tourny.

Jason Gillespie has been drafted into the Aussie "A" squad - maybe the start of his international comeback.

A team cricket should always be used for fringe players and promising youngsters. sadly we always get failures like faisal iqbal,sami etc.. been picked again and again.

Just heard that Gillespie is playing cuz of the injury to Hardwood.