Faisal Iqbal faces ban or fine

KARACHI: Test discard Faisal Iqbal could be handed a ban or a hefty fine if the Pakistan Cricket Board decides to take disciplinary action against him for appearing in a Twenty20 tournament in Florida featuring players from the rebel Indian Cricket League.
    
Faisal's case will be taken up by the International Cricket Committee headed by Zakir Khan tomorrow.
    
Faisal had appeared in the invitational Twenty20 tournament in May in Florida where teams from Pakistan, India and USA took part. Faisal played alongside ICL players like Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir in the competition.
    
The Board has issued a showcause notice to him for appearing with ICL players who are banned from playing at any level in the country by the board.
    
The batsman, who has played 21 Tests and 18 one-dayers, could face a stringent penalty or ban if the committee does not accept his explanation.
    
"I have informed the Board that in the same tournament, West Indian player Shaun Findley played as well as seven or eight other cricketers from Canada who are presently playing in the ICC's Inter-Continental Cup," Faisal said.
    
"I didn't commit any crime, I just went there to earn some extra money since I don't have a central contract from the Board. And it was not an ICL organised event," he explained.

The committee will also look into the feedback from the team management on the performance of the national team in the recent Asia Cup where Pakistan failed to make the final.
    
Also tomorrow, the three-member fact finding committee of the Board will also meet and question pacer Mohammad Asif over his 19-day detention in Dubai last month for alleged possession of a contraband drug.
    
The committee, which comprises senior officials of the Board, has got the report of the public prosecutor of Dubai on Asif's detention and will make recommendations on the basis of that report.
    
The pacer is already suspended for having failed a dope test in the Indian Premier League.