Junaid Khan
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Junaid Khan commonly known as Junaid Khan ' onMouseout='HidePop("21099")' href="/topics/Swabi_District">Swabi District
) is a Pakistan
i international cricketer who bowls left arm medium-fast. He is the first player from Swabi to make it into the Pakistan national cricket team. After an injury to Sohail Tanvir on the eve of the World Cup, Khan was called up as his replacement, with no experience in international cricket. Khan did not play in the tournament, and later made his ODI debut in April 2011. In June that year Khan represented Lancashire County Cricket Club
in English domestic cricket.
debut on 24 January 2007 at the age of 17. Playing for Abbottabad against Multan, his first wicket was that of Majid Majeed. The match ended in a draw and Khan finished with four wickets for 57 runs (4/57). For four years he took wickets consistently for his domestic team Abottabad and he was the team's chief strike bowler, he also played for Abbottabad Falcons in the Faysal Bank Twenty20. Khan also played for Pakistan A
. In the unofficial Test series between Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A
, Junaid was his team's leading wicket-taker with ten from two matches.
. He did not play a single match in the tournament and was forced to wait for his ODI debut. When Pakistan toured the West Indies for two Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I
in April and May Khan was included in the squad. On 21 April Khan made his T20I debut and went wicketless in the match. Two days later, Khan, Mohammad Salman
, and Hammad Azam
made their ODI debuts against West Indies. Opening the bowling with Wahab Riaz
, Khan conceded 49 runs from 10 overs without taking a wicket. Pakistan won the series 3–2 and Khan finished with three wickets from five matches, making him the team's fourth highest wicket-taker.
In May Pakistan toured Ireland
for a two-match ODI series. Junaid was Man of the Match in the first fixture, taking four wickets for twelve runs to help Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory. Pakistan won the series 2–0 and Junaid finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for the series with six at an average of 10.83. On the advice of former Pakistan and Lancashire
all-rounder Wasim Akram
, Lancashire signed Junaid Khan on "modest terms" according to coach Mike Watkinson
to play for them in the Friends Life t20 in June with the possibility of playing in the County Championship
. Problems with his visa meant Khan's Lancashire debut was delayed and it was not until 27 June that he represented Lancashire for the first time in a twenty20 match. Later that month Khan made his County Championship debut against Durham
, stepping in for the injured Farveez Maharoof
, Lancashire's other overseas player. While playing for Lancashire he took career best t20 bowling figures of 3/12 against the Derbyshire Falcons. During his spell with the club, Khan received advice from Akram on how to bowl in English conditions.
In August, Khan was awarded a category C central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board
; six players were in category A, eight in B, and nine (including Khan) in C. When Pakistan toured Zimbabwe in September for a Test three ODIs and two T20Is, the national selectors took the opportunity to give inexperienced players an opportunity. Frontline bowlers Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul
were rested and Khan was chosen as part of the squad. Although Khan had helped Lancashire reach t20 finals days, international selection meant that Khan would be unavailable to take part and would miss the end of the season with the club. On 1 September Khan made his Test debut against Zimbabwe; Pakistan's fast bowlers in the match were inexperienced, with just one Test cap between them. The coach, Waqar Younis
, commented that though Khan had a successful spell with Lancashire he still had a lot to learn as a Test bowler. Khan's sole wicket in the match, which Pakistan won, was that of batsman Craig Ervine
caught and bowled.
The following month, Pakistan played Sri Lanka
in three Test, five ODIs, and a T20I. On the opening day of the Test series, on a pitch suited to batting, Khan took his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.
on that of fellow left-arm fast-bowler Wasim Akram. He was also influenced by watched clips of Imran Khan
bowling. In his own words, Khan is "a line and length bowler" and he believes that "if you try to be accurate and you bowl a tight line the wickets will follow." According to Khan, he can bowl around 144 kph. He has the ability to swing
the ball into and away from batsmen. Khan stated that during his time with Lancashire County Cricket Club he learned how to bowl a yorker
and how to use swing and seam
.
Swabi District
Swabi District is the fourth most populous district of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It lies between the Indus and Kabul Rivers. The residents are referred to as Swabva'l. The Mandanr Yusufzai subsection of the Yousafzai clan of the Pashtuns form a majority of the population.-...
) is a Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i international cricketer who bowls left arm medium-fast. He is the first player from Swabi to make it into the Pakistan national cricket team. After an injury to Sohail Tanvir on the eve of the World Cup, Khan was called up as his replacement, with no experience in international cricket. Khan did not play in the tournament, and later made his ODI debut in April 2011. In June that year Khan represented Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
in English domestic cricket.
Early domestic career
Khan made his first-classFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut on 24 January 2007 at the age of 17. Playing for Abbottabad against Multan, his first wicket was that of Majid Majeed. The match ended in a draw and Khan finished with four wickets for 57 runs (4/57). For four years he took wickets consistently for his domestic team Abottabad and he was the team's chief strike bowler, he also played for Abbottabad Falcons in the Faysal Bank Twenty20. Khan also played for Pakistan A
Pakistan A cricket team
The Pakistan A cricket team is a national cricket team representing Pakistan. It is the 'second-tier' of international Pakistan cricket, below the full Pakistan national cricket team. Matches played by Pakistan A are not considered to be Test matches or One Day Internationals, instead receiving...
. In the unofficial Test series between Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A
Sri Lanka A cricket team
The Sri Lanka A cricket team is a national cricket team representing Sri Lanka. It is the 'second-tier' of international Sri Lankan cricket, below the full Sri Lanka national cricket team. Matches played by Sri Lanka A are not considered to be Test matches or One Day Internationals, instead...
, Junaid was his team's leading wicket-taker with ten from two matches.
Breaking into the Pakistan team
Following the recurrence of a knee injury to Sohail Tanvir, the uncapped Khan was added in Pakistan's squad for the 2011 World Cup2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
. He did not play a single match in the tournament and was forced to wait for his ODI debut. When Pakistan toured the West Indies for two Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I
Pakistani cricket team in the West Indies in 2011
The Pakistani cricket team toured the West Indies from 18 April to 24 May 2011. The tour consisted of two Tests, one Twenty20 and five One Day Internationals .-Squads:-Tour matches:-Only T20I:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-4th ODI:...
in April and May Khan was included in the squad. On 21 April Khan made his T20I debut and went wicketless in the match. Two days later, Khan, Mohammad Salman
Mohammad Salman
Mohammad Salman is an international cricketer from Pakistan. He is a right handed batsman and a wicketkeeper. He was brought in as a replacement for Kamran Akmal.-International:...
, and Hammad Azam
Hammad Azam
-International career:An all-rounder, Azam made his first-class debut in 2008 for Rawalpindi. He had played just six first-class games before being selected in the Pakistan squad for the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand....
made their ODI debuts against West Indies. Opening the bowling with Wahab Riaz
Wahab Riaz
Wahab Riaz is a Pakistani cricketer. He is a left-arm fast-medium bowler and a right-hand batsman. Riaz is a former student of Islamia College, Civil Lines, Lahore...
, Khan conceded 49 runs from 10 overs without taking a wicket. Pakistan won the series 3–2 and Khan finished with three wickets from five matches, making him the team's fourth highest wicket-taker.
In May Pakistan toured Ireland
Pakistani cricket team in Ireland in 2011
-2nd ODI:...
for a two-match ODI series. Junaid was Man of the Match in the first fixture, taking four wickets for twelve runs to help Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory. Pakistan won the series 2–0 and Junaid finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for the series with six at an average of 10.83. On the advice of former Pakistan and Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
all-rounder Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram is a former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman in cricketer and model. who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches....
, Lancashire signed Junaid Khan on "modest terms" according to coach Mike Watkinson
Mike Watkinson
Mike Watkinson is a former English cricketer who played four Test matches and one One Day International in the mid-1990s...
to play for them in the Friends Life t20 in June with the possibility of playing in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
. Problems with his visa meant Khan's Lancashire debut was delayed and it was not until 27 June that he represented Lancashire for the first time in a twenty20 match. Later that month Khan made his County Championship debut against Durham
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
, stepping in for the injured Farveez Maharoof
Farveez Maharoof
Mohamed Farveez Maharoof is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He first made his impression in the 2004 U19 World Cup in which he captained the Sri Lankan team. He enjoyed a prolific school career for Wesley College, with a highest score of 243 and best bowling figures of 8 for 20. An all-rounder, he made...
, Lancashire's other overseas player. While playing for Lancashire he took career best t20 bowling figures of 3/12 against the Derbyshire Falcons. During his spell with the club, Khan received advice from Akram on how to bowl in English conditions.
In August, Khan was awarded a category C central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board
Pakistan Cricket Board
The Pakistan Cricket Board is a sporting organization that is responsible for governing all professional cricket including Test cricket and One Day International matches played in Pakistan...
; six players were in category A, eight in B, and nine (including Khan) in C. When Pakistan toured Zimbabwe in September for a Test three ODIs and two T20Is, the national selectors took the opportunity to give inexperienced players an opportunity. Frontline bowlers Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul
Umar Gul
Umar Gul is a Pakistani right arm fast medium bowler in cricket who has played Test matches, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals for the Pakistani cricket team...
were rested and Khan was chosen as part of the squad. Although Khan had helped Lancashire reach t20 finals days, international selection meant that Khan would be unavailable to take part and would miss the end of the season with the club. On 1 September Khan made his Test debut against Zimbabwe; Pakistan's fast bowlers in the match were inexperienced, with just one Test cap between them. The coach, Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis Maitla is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket and widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time...
, commented that though Khan had a successful spell with Lancashire he still had a lot to learn as a Test bowler. Khan's sole wicket in the match, which Pakistan won, was that of batsman Craig Ervine
Craig Ervine
Craig Richard Ervine is a Zimbabwean cricketer. Ervine is a left-handed batsman who has impressed in the Zimbabwe domestic leagues....
caught and bowled.
The following month, Pakistan played Sri Lanka
Pakistani cricket team vs Sri Lanka in the UAE in 2011–12
The Sri Lanka cricket team and Pakistani cricket team toured UAE from 18 October to 25 November 2011. The tour included three Tests, five One Day Internationals and one T20I between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.-Squads:-1st Test:-2nd Test:-3rd Test:...
in three Test, five ODIs, and a T20I. On the opening day of the Test series, on a pitch suited to batting, Khan took his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.
Bowling style
Khan modelled his bowling actionBowling action
In the sport of cricket, the bowling action is the set of movements that result in the bowler releasing the ball in the general direction of the batsman.The bowling action can be broken down into a number of parts:*Grip*Approach...
on that of fellow left-arm fast-bowler Wasim Akram. He was also influenced by watched clips of Imran Khan
Imran Khan
Imran Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistani cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics...
bowling. In his own words, Khan is "a line and length bowler" and he believes that "if you try to be accurate and you bowl a tight line the wickets will follow." According to Khan, he can bowl around 144 kph. He has the ability to swing
Swing bowling
Swing bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as swing bowlers. Swing bowling is generally classed as a subtype of fast bowling.-Physics of swing bowling:...
the ball into and away from batsmen. Khan stated that during his time with Lancashire County Cricket Club he learned how to bowl a yorker
Yorker
Yorker is a term used in cricket that describes a ball bowled which hits the cricket pitch around the batsman's feet. When a batsman assumes a normal stance this generally means that the cricket ball bounces on the cricket pitch on or near the batsman's popping crease...
and how to use swing and seam
Seam bowling
Seam bowling is a phrase used for a bowling technique in cricket whereby the ball is deliberately bowled on to its seam, to cause a random deviation. Practitioners are known as seam bowlers or seamers....
.