Junaid aims to master the art of swing

Left-armer excited about fast-bowlers’ camp under Wasim Akram.

KARACHI:

Pakistan may have stopped producing fast-bowlers with the frequency it used to but every now and then a pacer still comes along who catches the eye.

Left-arm paceman Junaid Khan has been the latest to impress. Now, he has a chance to train under the legendary Wasim Akram and the 23-year-old is relishing the opportunity.

Wasim, who will supervise a training camp for fast-bowlers in Karachi from April 20, will also accompany the team for a couple of days in Abbottabad early next month ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Junaid said this was the perfect chance for all fast-bowlers to get invaluable lessons.

“I am very excited about the camp,” Junaid told The Express Tribune. “I have received valuable tips several times from Wasim Akram since my U19 playing days but the upcoming camp holds a lot of importance.

“It will be the first time that we’ll get a chance to be guided by him for a longer period. It’s an open opportunity for all bowlers to train under him which augurs well for everyone.

“Such a training camp, under the direct supervision of a legend, became the need of the hour and we’re grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] for organising it.”

The left-arm pacer added that he aimed to master the art of swing during the camp, a trait that served him well during the series against India where he troubled the opposition.

“There are a number of things in my mind of which mastering swing is my priority. I’ve worked a lot on it with Aqib Javed and Mohammad Akram as well.

“I will also try to learn how to adjust in changes in the playing conditions like bowling on dead pitches plus I will also work on adding variations.”

Recently chief selector Iqbal Qasim said the country’s fast bowling department is in crisis.

However, Junaid hoped that the camp would bring about the required improvement.

“I think Wasim would have the solutions to our problems. If he doesn’t, then nobody else will.”

Meanwhile, Junaid, who is busy in playing the ongoing President’s Cup one-day tournament, said he was fit and looking forward to a good show in the Champions Trophy.

Gul likely to miss Wasim’s tips 

Meanwhile, experienced fast-bowler Umar Gul, who is currently nursing a knee injury, is unlikely to attend the camp.

While the PCB is yet to release names of the fast bowlers who are going to attend, Gul’s name is unlikely to be included due to the injury that also ruled him out of the current domestic event.

The pacers who are likely to attend the camp include Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Ziaul Haq, Azizullah, Tabish Khan, Anwar Ali, Imran Khan and Asad Ali.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2013.