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| October 04, 2006 | Wednesday | Ramazan 10, 1427 |
ICC allows Pakistan to call up Faisal Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: Batsman Faisal Iqbal will replace banned skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq in Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad after the country received clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Inzamam was due to captain Pakistan in this month's tournament in India but he picked up a four-match One-day international ban at a hearing in London last week for bringing the game into disrepute.
Under ICC regulations, teams are only allowed to replace injured players in their confirmed 14-man squads, but PCB official Saleem Altaf said on Tuesday the authority had given Pakistan permission to call up Faisal.
“Faisal has been selected to play in the Champions Trophy as he has been with the team for a while now, and was also in the 30-member provisional list we sent to the ICC,” Altaf said.
The 24-year-old Iqbal was a member of the team that toured England recently.
The last time Iqbal replaced Inzamam — against India in the Karachi Test earlier this year - he scored his maiden Test hundred. Coming off the back of a successful domestic season, Iqbal has since then played in all of Pakistan's six Tests. Results have been mixed; two fifties only one of which, though, was a match-saving effort at Colombo.
In limited overs cricket, his position is much less secure and if he plays in Pakistan's first ODI against a qualifier on October 17, it will be his first in nearly three years. He averages under 22 and has only one hundred to show from 17 ODIs so far. At least, with one of the finest ODI batsman of his time as an uncle - Javed Miandad - he has a greater chance than most of improving those figures.
Younis Khan will lead the side in the Champions Trophy in Inzamam's absence.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer is confident his players will be able to regroup and focus on a tournament they have never won at a three-day conditioning camp in Lahore.
“Losing Inzamam is a big setback as he is such an experienced player and top class batsman,” the former England player said.
“But his absence can't be helped and I would be hoping the boys will put everything behind them and try to do their best.”—Reuters
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