Arthur tells Junaid to keep ‘foot behind line’

Pakistan head coach urges the pacer to bowl legal deliveries

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur insisted on Thursday that while left-arm pacer Junaid Khan was not a serial no-ball offender, there was no excuse that justifies him bowling illegal deliveries.

Australia could have been 46-3 in the third ODI of the series in Perth after debutant batsman Peter Handscomb was caught at slip in the 11th over. However, he earned a respite when the replay showed Junaid had overstepped the mark.

EDGED but Junaid has bowled a NO Ball here. Handscomb survives. https://t.co/VSDIC85eUj #AUSvPAK #AusvsPak #3rdODI pic.twitter.com/fdVdtLWUpt

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) January 19, 2017

Junaid then bowled another no-ball four overs later in a delivery that saw Handscomb dropped at point. The debutant ended up making 82 as Australia reached their target of 264 with seven wickets to spare.

Catching 101. https://t.co/VSDIC85eUj #AUSvPAK #AusvsPak #3rdODI pic.twitter.com/YCvaZJq18u

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) January 19, 2017

Arthur said his team cannot afford to commit such errors if they aim to win the five-match series.

“He’s not much of a serial offender,” said Arthur of Junaid in the post-match press conference. “Junaid was battling into the breeze a little bit, so that caused him to over stride. But it’s still no excuse. We’ve got to be keeping our foot behind the line.”

Arthur also said that regular ODI captain Azhar Ali is set to return after missing two games with a hamstring injury.



“He [Azhar] had a good hit [on Thursday], and ran between wickets with the pads on,” said Arthur. “He had a good field too. We’re confident we’ll get Azhar back for Sunday.”

The South African added: “It’s a massive boost. It gives more solidarity to our top order. I’m looking forward to having him back.”

Pakistan currently trail 2-1 in the series and must win Sunday’s fourth ODI in Sydney to keep the series alive.

Arthur was quoted by cricket.com.au