NEW DELHI, Jan 7: The most impressive among the Pakistan pacemen who made life difficult for the Indian batsmen, Junaid Khan revealed on Monday that the legendary Wasim Akram’s input about the Indian batsmen’s ‘weaknesses’ helped him get eight wickets in the just-concluded three-match One-day International series.
“I have been a bowler who has relied on bowling outswingers consistently at a good pace. It was Wasim Akram who told me to develop the incoming delivery which would be my weapon against the Indian right-handers,” the 23-year-old Junaid told the PTI before leaving for Lahore on Monday.
“It’s very natural for left-arm fast bowlers to slant it across the right-handers. Once a guy like Virender Sehwag gauges the length of the away-going deliveries, you can be murdered. When I did my homework, I found out that Sehwag has a problem with the ball that comes in.
“I then started working hard on that incoming delivery with our chief bowling coach Mohammad Akram,” said Junaid, who has played eight Tests, 16 One-day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals since making his debut in April 2011.
In the three matches, Junaid got Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh out once while he made Virat Kohli his ‘bunny’ getting him out thrice.
“I was never under any kind of pressure to perform. I also got a lot of back-up from the other end as Mohammad Irfan and Umar Gul also bowled superbly. It was certainly a collective effort,” Junaid remarked.
He said that for him swing is more important than pace. “I don’t want to compromise on pace but swing is the most important aspect of my bowling. One might get adjusted to pace but if one has the ability to move the ball consistently at a decent pace, he can create trouble in batsmen’s mind.”
The soft-spoken lad doesn’t have any specific targets in mind and wants to serve Pakistan cricket for as long as possible.
“God willing and with the support of my family and team-mates, I would like to play for Pakistan as long as possible and try to contribute my hundred per cent to the team’s cause,” the youngster concluded.—Agencies
