Junaid eyes international return after BPL heroics

Paceman is the leading wicket-taker in T20 league with 20 wickets

KARACHI: Pakistani pacer Junaid Khan’s career has been a rollercoaster ride. From spearheading Pakistan’s pace attack at one point to not even being considered for a central contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the young bowler from Swabi has seen it all.

Following the spot-fixing scandals in 2010 which took away Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif — two of the most in-form bowlers in world cricket at the time — from Pakistan  it was Junaid and Umar Gul who led the Men in Green’s pace attacks and carried out their work quite effectively.

However, since last year Junaid has found himself out of favour with the selectors and has also been axed from the list of centrally-contracted players.

But despite the morale-crushing setbacks, the 26-year-old has not let it affect his performance and is still willing to give it his all in order to prove his form and fitness.



In the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, the pacer — who represents Khulna Titans — is the current leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 20 scalps.

And Junaid, who believes he deserves a place in the national squad, still can’t understand why he is being overlooked, especially given the form that he is in.

“I find no reason for my snub from the national team,” rued the fast-bowler. “I’ve been hearing from different people that selection committee has dropped me on the basis of poor fitness but that’s not the case. I have been playing consistently in domestic cricket since I was dropped.”



He continued, “In the last month alone, I’ve played over 15 T20 matches (including 13 BPL games). T20s consume more energy than any other format but I am playing with authority and my performance is in front of everyone which is a proof of my fitness.”

With Pakistan pacers facing heavy criticism following their recent struggles against New Zealand and the West Indies, Junaid, who has 71 and 78 wickets in Test and ODIs respectively, believes that if given a chance he can get better results.

“I am in better form than many other pacers in the team. Apart from Sohail Khan, who has been bowling outstandingly, other fast-bowlers have failed. We are not getting help from our fast-bowling department and only [leg-spinner] Yasir Shah is winning matches for Pakistan,” he said.



The fast-bowler added that he will continue to work hard to make a return to the national team.

“I was very disheartened before but the support from the fans has given me strength. If I am not selected for the ODI series against Australia, I will prove my mettle in the National One-day Cup [starting from December 17]. I know I have a lot of potential left in me and I hope to use it to help the national side.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2016.

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