KARACHI: Pakistan's veteran batsman Younis Khan praised Junaid Khan's match-winning performance in the first one-day international against India, saying the emergence of the fast bowler was a good sign for Pakistan cricket.

Junaid rattled India's top order in the first ODI in Chennai which Pakistan won by six wickets to take 1-0 lead in the three-match series as his figures of 4-43 marked his second four-wicket haul in ODIs.

Junaid bowled out Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh while Rohit Sharma was caught out by Mohammad Hafeez off his bowling.

Younis, who made his debut a few years before Wasim Akram retired, said Junaid's performance was reminiscent of Wasim  adding that if the 23-year old kept it up, there could be another good fast bowler in Pakistan's line-up.

“The great thing about Junaid is the way he’s performing consistently,” Younis told The Express Tribune.

“This is a good sign not just for the team but for him as well. And if he keeps going on like this, we’ll hopefully find another good left-arm fast-bowler, someone like Wasim Akram. Junaid’s keen and wants to do well,” he added.

Pakistan play the second ODI in Kolkata on Thursday.