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Pakistan fast bowler Junaid Khan expressed jubilation on his selection in the Pakistan's One Day International (ODI) team for the Australia series, calling it a chance for him to prove himself in the field.
“This is a great moment for me... Although we are sad for the demise of [Mohammad] Irfan's mother, it is a chance for me to prove myself and my fitness in Australia,” Khan told DawnNews.
“I am experiencing the same feelings right now as I did when I was selected for the first time.”
Khan was called for the ODI series against Australia as a replacement for Mohammad Irfan, who is returning home following the death of his mother, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials said on Monday.
The fast bowler has not only played domestic cricket but has also played in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he emerged as one of the top three best-performing bowlers. On Sunday, he took four wickets in a domestic one-day match, leading Peshawar to victory against FATA.
"Getting back in the national team after almost one and a half years is the biggest achievement that I've been waiting for since a long time,” Khan added.
The fast bowler said that he has been in form for a while, attributing his selection to his consistent performance in domestic cricket as well as the BPL where he scored the second biggest number of wickets in the tournament.
About the ODI series in Australia, Khan said he is up for the challenge as pitches there are a "bit different".
“Pitches in Australia are a bit different but I am confident to give a match-winning performance there,” the fast bowler added.
He also said that teamwork will lead Pakistan to victory in Australia.
“I cannot go there and take wickets alone. It’s a team effort, and I am sure my captain and fellow bowlers will give me all the support I'll need," he said.
“I will do my best. The rest is up to fate.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (31) Closed
Jan 09, 2017 10:30pm
Let's see that you have learnt anything from your past mistakes and have improved your bowling which was mediocre when you were out of the team.
Moreover,you must have seen pakistani bowlers bowling in the recent concluded test series against Australia,I hope you won't make the same mistakes what they made.Many experts pointed out their short comings,I hope you would have listened to them.
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Jan 09, 2017 10:38pm
Fans like performance,nothing else,we are fed up of claims ,complaints etc.
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Jan 09, 2017 10:35pm
Very saddened to hear about Irfans mother, may she rest in peace and may Irfan get over the loss. Truly sad news. As for Junaid, this is a chance for him to take by both hands. He is a brilliant bowler, and has a vicious yorker which swings in. He is better than Amir on all surfaces, and has the inswinger, outswinger and bouncer.
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Jan 09, 2017 10:43pm
I would pick Junaid Khan ahead of Irfan anytime. Irfan is a liability cant bat cant bowl and cant field.
If you look at Irfans bowling when was the last time he bowled someone out. He pitches the ball like 5 ft up and the only way he will get someone out is by being caught.
Junaid for me anytime. I would also bring back Imad Wasim to replace Misbah or Younis.
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Jan 09, 2017 10:59pm
good luck you are selected in the ODI team. when going to Australia, please donot ball half pitch but good length if you wan to succeed. Welcome to Australia.
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Jan 09, 2017 11:04pm
Junaid, it is nice to see how one is so proud to represent his country and I hope and pray nothing but success for you. You will do well since you have the fire to do well and that is what missing from our current team. Most of them these parchi players know they will be here regardless of their performance. Unless, this changes nothing will happen in this country in any department.
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Jan 09, 2017 11:12pm
Regardless of what PCB does. Pakistan stands a very little chance for putting up a fight.
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Jan 09, 2017 11:18pm
Let's hope other deserving players get a chance at the behest of our skipper and his useless friends.
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Jan 09, 2017 11:55pm
great to see him back, sad for irfans loss would have been good to have both of them starting
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Jan 10, 2017 12:01am
Good luck!
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Jan 10, 2017 12:10am
Junaid will do good in his first ODI but gradually his performance will slip after a taste of coaching.
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Jan 10, 2017 12:57am
let us hope he can be just as successful as his cousin Yasir Shah and get his Mojo back he used to be a great hope which spluttered to a halt its all in the mind let us hope he can get over his obstacles, Pakistan is in dire need of a decent partner for Amir as fast bowlers always operate best in pairs Imran & Sarfaraz, the two Waseems , Amir and Asif just to name a few.
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Jan 10, 2017 12:57am
U took up when Aamir and Asif let us down in the field come on Junaid let's show ur metal to ur haters best of luck
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Jan 10, 2017 01:05am
Please don't make any statement before the game begins. Pakistani players are known to talk a big game and them come empty handed. In fact the more they talk a big game, the worse their performance ends up being.
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Jan 10, 2017 01:51am
Yes ,pitches in Australia are different,so do not start bowling short pitch deliveries,otherwise you will get hit for boundaries and sixes.The biggest mistakes our bowlers do on those pitches.
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Jan 10, 2017 02:38am
Well sure it's a team effort. Every one has to put hands in a basket. Please do not play intense and fear to lose. Put some fight and play offensive cricket. God bless Pakistan.
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Jan 10, 2017 02:54am
First Hafeez and now Junaid I guess it's good let them give decent chance and see what they can offer if they play well they will continue if they can't then PCB should start closing old chapters and go with new blood.
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Jan 10, 2017 03:22am
Looking at performance of Pak team,not much can be expected in one day series. Expect 300+ from home team and 200 from visitors . Does the team need further humiliation. It reminds me of college days when we used to face(kemc) Islamia college or govt . College. Result was always forgone and comic.
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Jan 10, 2017 05:12am
He swing the ball a lot better than Amir and Wahab but Amir media promotion is outstanding and PCB support him unnecessarily.
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Jan 10, 2017 06:14am
Another mistake. He lacks pace and has lost his magic. The number one bowler in domestic misses out as does the number one batsman. Players like fawad alam, sadaf hussain and other first class bowlers are rotting in reserves due to politics.
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Jan 10, 2017 07:26am
his strike rate and average is way better than aamir and co. Also he played most of his cricket in asian condition which dont suit fast bowlers. I still think if he was selected for UK we could have won that series.
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Jan 10, 2017 08:45am
About time. He must have almost lost hope. Good for him
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Jan 10, 2017 11:39am
He is energetic ,jubilant fast bowler .he deserve for Pakistan cricket because has showed class in BPL and domestic cricket as well.junaid is comparative of M Ammir boths are bouncy and swing bowlers.it,s possible they will show their majestic approach as M asif and Legend Waseem akram.
but we need to proper manage them .Azhar is very cool and calm player but I think he should change defensive term and put potential to achieve modernity of ODI cricket.
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Jan 10, 2017 11:35am
Now that you have a good chance of playing, let's hope you do a better job with the ball, and make Aussies toil. I think you are a splendid bowler and if fielders do their job right than you have a very good shot at glory. All the very best and hope you will make us proud.
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Jan 10, 2017 11:44am
Talk big n do nothing is latest trend for pak these days......another flop show coming soon
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Jan 10, 2017 02:25pm
Pakistani players should just shut up and play the game. Australia will score 350 or higher every time they will bat first in the ODI.
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Jan 10, 2017 03:28pm
Will request to talk less and concentrate on the game.
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Jan 10, 2017 04:35pm
It is good to see Junaid Khan back in the squad although PCB missed a opportunity of him Playing in NZ and Aus in test games specially in NZ where wickets would have suited his style of bowling.
Selector needs to consider Muhammad Abbas and Sadaf Hussain as well or atleast for the Pakistan A atleast as they are doing very well in domestic.
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Jan 10, 2017 07:46pm
Finally we will see the promising duo of Amir and Junaid bowl in tandem. I think Amir will become more effective when the bowler on the other end is as menacing as Junaid. Previously, Amir looked threatening but not lethal because the batsmen didn't take chances on him and scored on Rahat and Sohail. With Junaid on the other end, opposing batsmen will have to take chances on both bkwlers equally and would lose wickets just like the combo of Amjr and Asif or Junaid and Irfan. Just like batting, bowling is also about partnerships, something we badly need and hopefully we'll get that with Amir and Junaid.
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Jan 11, 2017 03:02am
Its time for Junaid Khan and M. Rizwan to show their true potential. Both can earn a permanent place in the team.
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Jan 12, 2017 03:58pm
Let's wait and see if he can match his words with solid and real performance in the middle of the cricket arena against Australia in the ODI series starting from tomorrow?
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