Wednesday 2 November 2016 17:04, UK
After losing his central contract and being criticised by two former internationals, Junaid Khan tells Saj Sadiq why his priority remains playing for Pakistan rather than England...
There have been some rumours that you were looking to settle in England perhaps switch allegiances and play for England in the future. Can you shed some light on these rumours?
Junaid: Let me clarify this issue. My priority is to play cricket for Pakistan. What I am today is because of Pakistan cricket and I will never forget that. A lot of my family is in England and my wife is also from there, so there is a possibility that at some point in the future I may settle in England but at the moment my priority is to reside in Pakistan and play cricket for Pakistan. My target is a comeback for Pakistan and that is all that I am thinking about at the moment.
You had some great times at Lancashire and are fondly remembered there. Is county cricket on your radar in the future?
Junaid: I had some wonderful times at Lancashire and they really made me feel very welcome there. On the field we did well and off the field it was a great club to be at with some very good people there. I feel that county cricket really improved me as a cricketer and it's definitely something that I would love to do again in future. If an opportunity came up to play county cricket again I would definitely be interested.
It doesn't seem so long ago that you were regarded as the main pace bowler for Pakistan; where has it all gone wrong?
Junaid: Before my injury problems I believe that my bowling effort and performances were outstanding considering that I had played most of my international cricket on Asian wickets. As a pace bowler to play most of your international cricket on Asian wickets is a tough ask and challenge. After I came back from injury I don't believe that I have been given a proper chance to show my ability as a bowler. When you come back from injury it takes time for you to regain your rhythm especially when you are a pace bowler. I don't think I got the time and chances that I needed post-injury.
Why didn't you get the chances in a Pakistan shirt post-injury that you feel you deserved?
Junaid: I was one of the best bowlers in the Pentangular Cup in Karachi. After that I bowled well in the first edition of the Pakistan Super League and thereafter put in good performances against England A for Pakistan A. After that I bowled well in recent domestic Twenty20 tournaments and the figures are there for all to see. So I'm not too sure what else I could do to get a proper chance after my injury problems. I was picked for a few matches after my knee injury and those were in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka where I had catches dropped and then I was left out after that.
What's the current situation regarding your injuries and earlier fitness problems?
Junaid: I am 100 per cent fit. There are absolutely no problems with my fitness. I've been playing consistently and regularly in domestic cricket and for Pakistan A so there are no issues there at all. My injuries were as a result of bad luck rather than poor fitness. I was bowling on a damp wicket and I slipped as I bowled and that caused the injury to my knee. So it was one of those things that just happened.
Some would argue that you have not been at your best in recent times and when you last played for Pakistan before you were dropped?
Junaid: I have played the vast majority of my international cricket in Asia and as I mentioned that is not an easy task for a pace bowler. Also the injuries were a setback and it has taken me time to get back to my best. Look at Mohammad Amir, whilst he played recently in more bowler-friendly conditions in England he didn't appear to be in full rhythm as it takes time to get back to your best when you have been out of the game. Similarly with myself I came back from injury, was called-up for Pakistan and then dropped very quickly.
I hope that at some point in the future I am given the chance by selectors to play some series outside Asia and in some bowler-friendly conditions. My best bowling performances despite all this have been in Asia but as a pace bowler you hope that you get chances outside Asia also to show your skills.
Things change pretty quickly when it comes to selection in Pakistan. Is that what you are banking on to be given another opportunity in the future?
Junaid: I am only 26 and I am ready to fight for a place in the Pakistan team. I believe that my best cricketing years are yet to come and I have not yet reached my peak as a bowler. I think at 26 you are still learning as a pace bowler and I am very hopeful that I can make another comeback for Pakistan after some impressive displays in domestic cricket.
Two former Pakistan players recently on television criticised your attitude and professionalism. What is your response?
Junaid: Firstly Moin Khan and Rashid Latif are Pakistani cricketing greats and my seniors and I have a lot of respect for both of them. I have played under Rashid Latif at Port Qasim Authority and I have also played under Moin Khan when he was a coach and also when he was Pakistan team manager. However I was shocked at what they had to say about me especially when they provided no proof of the allegations they were making.
Regarding the allegations by Rashid Latif, when the Pakistan team left for New Zealand and I was injured, there was no doctor at the national cricket academy so I went to Abbottabad to see the physio who worked for my regional team and that was with the full permission of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Intikhab Alam gave me permission to go to Abbottabad.
Also, regarding the accusation by Moin Khan, he is referring to our tour of South Africa where in my last over in one of the matches I managed to stop South Africa from scoring nine runs in the final over. If there were disciplinary problems with me then how come I was picked on that tour and the series after that? If there had been issues then would it not have made more sense to drop me or send me home rather than to pick me?
You have been dropped from the recently announced PCB list of players with central contracts. That must have been a major surprise for you?
Junaid: That was unbelievable. I honestly do not know the reason for that. Some players haven't played for Pakistan for a long time and have still been included in the central contracts list. I have been playing for Pakistan and Pakistan A yet I was still dropped. But the central contract issue is irrelevant and that will not deter me from my ambition of making a comeback for Pakistan.
My philosophy is that just because I don't have a central contract that doesn't mean that I won't be picked. If they want to give me a central contract that's fine, if not, then that's OK also. My sole aim is to get back on track with my bowling and earn an international recall.
