Junaid Khan denies ‘rumours’ of switching to England cricket team

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

KARACHI: Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan on Wednesday expressed disappointment over ‘rumours’ about him considering options regarding switching to England cricket team after being repeatedly kept out of the national side by Pakistan Cricket Board.

Junaid Khan admitted that he was immensely disappointed for not being selected for the upcoming England tour.

He, however, expressed discomfort over the news being associated with him that he is considering to move to England and play for them. “There is no truth in any such claim,” he asserted.

The left-arm pacer said his in-laws are mostly living in England and since he was not selected for the national Test Squad so he was considering options to play county cricket there.

Junaid Khan said Lancashire was interested in signing him again but he didn’t take the contract because he was confident that his name would be included in the Test squad touring England.

“I don’t know what else I will have to do to make a comeback in the national side, as I have already performed well in the PSL and Pakistan A team,” he maintained.

Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq had said that “Junaid Khan was not in full rhythm”.

Replying to this, Junaid said he was fully fit and focused during the boot camp at PMA Kakul, “where else do I prove my fitness and rhythm”.

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Mansoor Sajid

Jun 08, 2016 08:44pm

If you are getting a chance to play the county cricket then go for it. PCB is a club of people who don't believe in merit.

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ENGR OSMAN

Jun 08, 2016 08:51pm

With Rahat Ali, Wahab and Amir, fourth left armer would be too much for any side and England has a strong batting line-up, against whom variety is needed, so tough call for Junaid. Hope he signs for Lancashire and proves PCB wrong. May be he can play in one-dayers.

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Waqas

Jun 08, 2016 09:02pm

Junaid would have been lethal in swinging conditions, much better then Sohail Khan. But wo jo hamarey jon say chief selector hai unkay kuch aur plans hai.

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Tsriq

Jun 08, 2016 09:12pm

Whats wrong in switching to play for other country ,if opportunity is lacking here.Keppler,Tahir,fawad etc have done it so whats wrong.

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Life

Jun 08, 2016 09:32pm

If cricket is your bread and butter there is no problem if you play for any other cricket team.

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Gulfraz

Jun 08, 2016 09:38pm

He certainly should go where he's appreciated. England would respect him.

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Ali

Jun 08, 2016 09:44pm

Ofcourse everyone has a right to explore better and more secure future. If you get a chance abroad, seize the opportunity. No wonders our all bright youth are leaving the country for greener pastures.

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nac Paris

Jun 08, 2016 10:21pm

He should for his future in line with others rejects playing for Australia and South Africa

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Zia

Jun 08, 2016 11:19pm

He ia justified as he ia better than other seamers execpt Aamir. I never understood why he was kept out. He has better action and rhythm than others. May be he is not in good books. With Inzi as selector i have little doubt that team will be any different than his captaincy time.

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Tutankhamun

Jun 08, 2016 11:21pm

He should play for Afghanistan instead, he will have no problem fitting in since he is ethnic Afghan (Pashtun). We need a left armer anyway so he is more than welcome.

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Waqar Ahmad

Jun 08, 2016 11:33pm

Wahab Riaz is only in the team based on his one spell performance against Australia in World Cup. What else he has done in recent times to earn a place in national team except that he is from Lahore.

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ali fakhar

Jun 08, 2016 11:58pm

@ENGR OSMAN he is better than wahab,wahab only bowled one spell to watson as a fine one.

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Usher

Jun 09, 2016 12:05am

@Waqas Sohail is the only bowler in Pakistan team who can do reverse swing significantly. He will perform well if maintain his fitness.

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Bored

Jun 09, 2016 12:09am

Zinda bhaag..!!

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karachi Wally

Jun 09, 2016 12:14am

I never thought that mullahism can also destroy cricket as well. Inzi proved me wrong. My advice to Junaid grow a beard.

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Yasir

Jun 09, 2016 12:23am

@Waqar Ahmad Fully agreed. The guy hasn't won a single match for his country over last 2 years. Yet he's an automatic selection across all formats.

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atif khan

Jun 09, 2016 12:35am

@Tutankhamun we have got streets full of extraordinary players to serve your team.

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Gangu Tailee

Jun 09, 2016 12:37am

@Waqar Ahmad. Agreed! Wahab is a total waste. He will be hammered in England.

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Jun 09, 2016 01:13am

Go for it dude! Don't hold back and put your future in line as there is very little hope with the current setup to do the right thing. As a left arm pace bowler, he is much better than Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali and much better suited for English conditions - unless he is unfit, I fail to understand why he is being kept out of the team. The brain drain will continue as people have lost faith in the current system

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Sarfaraz

Jun 09, 2016 01:42am

@Waqas Hilarious but very true.

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Yankee Cricket Fan

Jun 09, 2016 01:46am

Junaid can actually get a strong consideration for a call if he were already in England and playing county cricket. So, I'd highly recommend that he signs with a county and start playing. If there is any issue an issue with form of any of those who may be part of the Pakistan team, or if someone suffers and injury, he would be ready to step in and take the spot immediately.

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Saad

Jun 09, 2016 02:18am

There is a 3 or 5 years residency requirment for to paly for England. Means he wil have to wait for 3 or 5 yrs to play for England. Plus he is also not a UK citizen so he will also have sort his Citizenship status as well.

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a&a

Jun 09, 2016 03:57am

Good luck...

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Dervaish Khan

Jun 09, 2016 04:55am

He became unlucky the day he married. I don't think if switching country would be a good omen for him.

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zulu

Jun 09, 2016 04:56am

wish you best of luck Junaid , its a good move Pakistan has an immense talent but ???????? you will have good career

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Fruitsalad

Jun 09, 2016 05:58am

if some one has been appointed in a role, some trust has to be instilled. IF the selectors feel he is not ready and may not be the best resources for the country, all that a player can do is perform and keep performing at the domestic level and remind the selectors.

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Talha

Jun 09, 2016 06:07am

I have great respect for Misbah but he definetly has his favourites who he would want in the team over any other deserving player. Ehsan Adil and Rahat Ali are two of his favourites. Junaid Khan could have easily been selected in place of Rahat Ali. Junaid has more pace and is more threatening than Rahat any given day. Inzimam too should not have overlooked Junaid. However, I would give Inzi one more chance before forming a final opinion about him. Junaid should have been in place of Eahat and Fawad Alam should have been in place of another Misbah favourite Muhammad Hafeez who by the way is still injured but still surprisingly has been selected.

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Fawad

Jun 09, 2016 08:27am

@ENGR OSMAN amir is fine because je is better then junaid but i guess he should have been selected above wahab or rahat..

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khawar chaudhary

Jun 09, 2016 08:33am

junaid khan would been better choice then rahat ali whose body language ,, follow through ,, delivery style , dose,nt look like a fast bowler no offence to the guy but i dont think he can win a match he is like another azeem hafiz where junaid is 10 time better bowler then rahat , sohail. and wahab

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Azmat Shah

Jun 09, 2016 11:06am

@ali fakhar We all suffer from selective Amnesia. I think Junaid has more swing but less pace. Vice versa, Wahab has less swing but more pace. there is no alternative to agression in test cricket which WR displays more often then junaid in my view

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Azmat Shah

Jun 09, 2016 11:09am

@karachi Wally So you think Sohail Khan, Amir, Wahab Riaz has a hidden beard. I can hardly find a player in the entire squad with a beard. Stop moaning and linking everything to the beard. The very same Inzi was leading prayers when he was coaching Afghanistan and he made them a force to reckon with in 2 years. No one ws talking abt his beard then, Why? because success has many fathers and failure is an orphan

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Kabir

Jun 09, 2016 12:00pm

I would pick Junaid instead wahab in test team, wahab lacks variety and accuracy and loses steam quickly in test matches, junaid is a better swing bowler and with his test match patience Junaid-Amir combo would have been deadly!!!!

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satyan israni

Jun 09, 2016 12:17pm

same story in india as well. its unfortunate that the so called legends who become administrators are so casual with the careers of the present players forgetting that they were also once in the same boots. i hope junaid signs for county cricket and then his fortunes turn thereafter..

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Mahbub

Jun 09, 2016 01:40pm

@ENGR OSMAN ..why Rahat Ali. Junied is far better than Rahat Ali

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parveez

Jun 09, 2016 02:53pm

I don't understand why you didn't sign county contract. If you had signed and picked to play for Pakistan, almost all contracts allow 1st choice to be given to your country. Although I like this guy, but I don't believe him.

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MUSTAKIM ANSARI

Jun 09, 2016 04:17pm

In my opinion Junaid KHAN should have been picked for England tour . As he is very much aggressive and lethal than Rahat Ali . Another mistake they have done......they should select Ahmed Shehjad & Umar Akmal after filing bond papers regarding their disciplinary complaints . Pakistan is going to loose test series due to batting failure . PCB shouldn't demolish the career of Ahmed Shehjad & Umar Akmal.

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rathorew

Jun 09, 2016 06:09pm

By all means play County cricket, it would be good for you and for Pakistan. But do not think that you would make it into the English test team; you are just not good enough.

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Ali

Jun 09, 2016 07:25pm

Rahat Ali shouldn't be part of the squad.

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Ali

Jun 09, 2016 07:25pm

Rahar ali shouldn't be part of the squad.

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ANEES

Jun 09, 2016 07:53pm

a weird choice to leave out Junaid as he has played in the UK for his county so is familiar with the conditions. Also he is a better batsman and fielder then Rahat Ali.

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