PAKISTANI Test cricketer Faisal Iqbal has been signed up on Devon League forms by Premier side Bovey Tracey and could make his debut in the game against Budleigh Salterton tomorrow.

Iqbal, who is 28, is set to replace departed Kiwi Andrew de-Boorder in the Bovey Tracey team for the rest of the season.

UP FOR THE TEST: New Bovey Tracey player Faisal Iqbal hits Monty Panesar for six while playing against England for Pakistan

De-Boorder, a former New Zealand U19 skipper, went home this week to prepare for an international U25 tournament in Australia.

Iqbal had expected to be in the Pakistan squad for the looming Test series with England this summer. He toured New Zealand and Australia last winter, playing in three Tests.

His blast at the Pakistan selectors after learning he had been left out of the touring party for England should ensure no requests for Bovey to release him for international duty over the next eight weeks.

"They have given me the shock of my life by discarding me without any due reason," Iqbal said at the time the squad was announced. "It is pure victimisation and nothing else."

"I've played as a replacement player for the last nine years.

"I've scored even in difficult conditions though the chances I was given were few and far between.

"I'm young and fit and have matured now but they have just discarded me without any fault of mine. Such treatment of players like me, who are loyal to their country, will dishearten the next generation of cricketers."

Pete Bradley, the Bovey Tracey captain, said all the paperwork and international clearances required for Iqbal to play against Budleigh Salterton had been obtained.

All that remains is to get him into the country in time.

"I spoke to him on Wednesday night and he said he was having a few problems getting a flight organised with Pakistan International Airways," said Bradley.

"As he plays his First Class cricket for the Pakistan International Airways team, and is the captain, he was hoping to pull a few strings to get the ticket problem sorted."

Bradley added he is expected a call today to say one way or the other if Iqbal can play.

"If he can't make it for Budleigh we will definitely have him over in time for the North Devon game next Saturday."

Iqbal, whose uncle is Pakistani legend Javed Miandad, was an U19 international for Pakistan at the age of 16. He has represented a number of clubs in and around Karachi.

He made his Pakistan debut against New Zealand in 2001, scoring 42 and 58, and has made 1124 runs at 26.76 in 26 Test matches. He last appearance was against Australia in Sydney earlier this year.