Junaid http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 vows to make an impression at the ICC World Cup 2011
Pakistan are set to unearth another fast bowler, Junaid Khan, who is full of promise and eager to make an impression at the highest level of the game.
The 21-year-old Junaid was included in Pakistan’s World Cup 2011 squad after the national selection panel and the team management declared that Sohail Tanvir, who was part of the original squad, was unfit
to perform in the mega event.
The left-arm quickie, who hails from Matra in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has performed consistently well at the domestic level and is being touted as a real talent who can replace the now banned Mohammad
Aamir in all three formats of the game - Test, ODI and T20.
"I'll treat it as just another game of cricket," Junaid said. "I've represented my country at junior levels and Pakistan A, so I know what the responsibility of playing for your country is like. I don't think
I'll have any nerves and I'm confident I can handle the situation."
He has thus far played a total of 35 first-class games, snaring a highly admirable 167 wickets at an average of just above 21.
Junaid has represented the country regularly whilst playing for Pakistan’s A side. Their recent tour to the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 is one such example where he was also the second-highest wicket-taker in the unofficial
ODI series, as he made life tough for the locals, taking five wickets in three games.
He added that he was determined to make an impression and show the world that he fully deserves his chances, especially after the enigmatic Sohail Tanvir failed to pass a fitness test despite his pleas that
he was fully fit and raring to go at forthcoming the World Cup.
"I've been working so hard over the last couple of seasons and I feel that I have consistently improved as a bowler, "Junaid said.”I've also been working hard on my batting and I feel that my call-up for
the World Cup is warranted as I have done consistently well at all levels for Pakistan."
Meanwhile, the selection of Junaid has puzzled a certain section of the cricket pundits in Pakistan. The pundits are of the opinion that gambling with a youngster in the tournament can backfire at the national
squad, especially if he is fielded in the knockout stage of the event which is a high-pressure situation where only the best and fittest in the business can survive.
However, the need of the hour is to field him in a couple of matches against the minnows before pitting him against the big teams.
Pakistan have two warm-up matches before the tournament begins, besides matches against minnows http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in group A. Ideally, Junaid should be fielded in at least two of these matches and
also be given a chance against either of the three formidable teams in the group; co-hosts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 are expected to ease into the quarterfinal stage, which means that the think tank can easily afford to experiment at the initial stage of the 43-day extravaganza.
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