Junaid signs for Lancashire

Left-armer taken on-board by county on Akram’s recommendation.

MANCHESTER:

Young Pakistan fast-bowler Junaid Khan has signed a contract to play for English county Lancashire in their Friends Life Twenty20 campaign, subject to registration.

Junaid’s arrival comes as a welcome boost for the county after their previous overseas signing, Farveez Maharoof, was called into Sri Lanka’s squad for the Test series against England. Lancashire Cricket Director Mike Watkinson said the county was looking forward to the youngster joining the squad. “Junaid is a hot prospect who was recommended to us by Wasim Akram,” said Watkinson. “He is initially with us for the T20 campaign but there may be some scope for him to feature in our County Championship squad later in the summer.”

Lancashire head coach Peter Moores was also fulsome in his praise for Junaid.

“Junaid will supplement our seam attack,” he said. “He bowls with good pace and variation and we look forward to working with him.”

The 21-year-old has played seven One-Day Internationals (ODI) and one Twenty20 game for Pakistan and was part of their Test squad on the recent tour of West Indies.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2011.