Discarded Pakistan batsman Faisal Iqbal is eyeing a Test comeback after seven years, as the middle-order batsman believes he is fit and raring to go after two Pakistan’s senior campaigners, Misbah-Ul-Haq and Younis Khan, who has eventually announced their retirement in the month of May.
“Two experienced players have left the team and a space in the middle-order is open. I am a middle-order batsman and that is where I have been performing well there for some years now,” Iqbal was quoted as saying by Express Tribune.
As many names from the domestic set-up are being discussed to fill in the void, Iqbal is also the contender for the national fold, as he believes he had worked hard on his fitness.
However, knowing the pros and cons of the procedure, Iqbal is looking forward to impressing the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) national selectors — to break into the national side on the basis of pure merit.
“I am sure if I perform in the domestic cricket I will get a place in the team. I have been working hard for this and the time has finally come to earn back a place in the team,” Iqbal remarked.
Iqbal, who led Karachi Zebra side for seven years, is focusing on the longer version of the game while reiterating his primary focus is to feature in the four-day games and 50-over format in the domestic set-up before cementing his spot in the international circuit.
“There has to be a combination of senior and junior players. I am one of the senior-most players around and am experienced enough to help the side,” Iqbal added.
While throwing his name in the mix, Iqbal believes he has been going well in the domestic circuit, as he has further vowed to perform in the upcoming edition of the domestic circuit — to play at least for three years.
“When an experienced player leaves the team, another senior player should replace him,” Iqbal asserted.
The forgotten player, Iqbal was also hit by the propaganda of politics owing to the allegations over the part of nepotism while being the nephew of former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad.
“No team in the world can succeed with just young players,” maintained Iqbal.
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The right-handed batsman is hopeful of making a comeback while hinging on his domestic performance with the bat.
“I have been working on my fitness and my skills. I know I am fit enough to be in the national team and will be considered if I perform in the upcoming domestic season,” Iqbal concluded.
Interestingly, the overlooked 35-year-old Karachi-born batsman played his last Test in 2010 against Australia at Sydney after featuring in the One-day International against West Indies in 2006.
In the previous edition of the first class season of Quaid-e-Azam trophy, Iqbal amassed 493 runs at an average of 37.92 in seven games, as he scored a solitary hundred and three half-centuries. Iqbal has featured in 26 Tests for Pakistan, as he scored 1,124 runs at an average of 26.76 and 314 runs in 18 ODIs at the average of 22.42.