Former Pakistan cricketer Faisal Iqbal has stirred up controversy during his recent appearance on a podcast hosted by Saj Sadiq.
Speaking bravely on the issue, Faisal Iqbal claimed that provincial racism still exists at the roots of Pakistan cricket.
The ex-middle-order batter from Karachi explained that players are often judged not just on their performance, but also on where they come from.
“When we hear the word racism, we just think of the black-and-white debate. Unfortunately, in our country, regional racism exists, and everyone is talking about it—be it former cricketers or anyone else. It is so deep-rooted that it is present everywhere, not just in cricket. Ask the people, and they will agree with you. It is just a fact. The top bosses will need to come up with a way to solve it. But it is a serious issue, as the people in power won’t let anyone else from other provinces join the teams,” Faisal Iqbal said.
Speaking from his own experience, Faisal Iqbal added, “When I used to talk about players from Balochistan, everyone used to be shocked, as if to say, ‘Why am I talking about them when I belong to Sindh?'”
Faisal Iqbal’s claims are, sadly, nothing new. There have always been allegations of bias in team selection based on region rather than cricketing talent, and this issue has only become more evident over time, with more former cricketers speaking out.
Faisal Iqbal’s comments reflect a larger issue in Pakistan cricket—the need to ensure equal opportunities for talent across all provinces, with selection based purely on performance, not politics. Whether that day will arrive remains to be seen.