'Gagged' Junaid Khan shares cryptic photo after being axed from World Cup squad

Published
104
Junaid Khan was axed from the World Cup squad today after two uninspired performances in a series where almost every bowler failed. — Photo courtesy: Junaid Khan/Twitter
Junaid Khan was axed from the World Cup squad today after two uninspired performances in a series where almost every bowler failed. — Photo courtesy: Junaid Khan/Twitter

After he was axed from the World Cup 2019 squad, fast bowler Junaid Khan on Monday shared a cryptic photo of himself with his mouth sealed shut with black tape.

Junaid, Abid Ali and Faheem Ashraf formed the trio that lost their spots on the 15-man roster when Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq announced the final squad today for the big tournament.

They were replaced by pacers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz — the former who has two wickets in his last 10 ODIs and the latter who has not played an ODI in two years and whom coach Mickey Arthur had famously discarded "for not winning the team any matches in years".

Junaid did not impress in his two outings against England either, leaking runs at a high rate in both but he appears to have reservations over his ouster in favour of a duo that itself has question marks all over it.

"I don't want to say anything. Truth is bitter," he tweeted along with the photo.

PCB takes notice; Junaid deletes tweet

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took notice of the tweet but decided not to take any "immediate action" against Junaid as it did not want to stir up a controversy so close to the World Cup, well-informed sources within the board told DawnNewsTV.

The PCB source said that while the players are free to use social media, the guidelines provided to them bind them to not tweets "things that are against the spirit of the game".

Junaid later deleted the tweet.

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...