If a player wants to learn how to handle pressure, he should play against India: Junaid Khan

Fast-bowler Junaid Khan has expressed that if any cricketer from Pakistan wants to learn how to manage pressure in a match they should play a game against Team India. The left-arm pacer recalled the experience of playing against India in a bilateral series against India in 2012-13. He further stated that India-Pakistan matches are the most high-pressure games in international cricket. 

The last bilateral series between the two teams was held in India which was won by the Pakistan team 2-1. The T20I series was drawn 1-1. The last Test series between the two countries was way back in 2007 when Pakistan traveled to India. Coming back to Khan, who featured in the 2012-13 tour, he was the joint-most wicket-taker in the ODI series triumph. He took eight wickets in total, which included a four-wicket haul in the final match in New Delhi. 

During a recent interaction with Cricket Pakistan, Junaid explained how that series in India helped him to deal with pressure in difficult situations. “If a player wants to learn how to handle pressure, he should play against India. There is a lot of pressure on both teams during India-Pakistan encounters. I learned how to handle pressure during the 2012 series against India in India. Fans from both countries will enjoy these matches but the decision to play the series depends on the administrators,” Junaid told Cricket Pakistan.

If you are on good terms with team management then you will probably get a proper run: Junaid Khan

Junaid Khan, who was once an extraordinary talent in Pakistan cricket, remains out of contention from the national side. During the interaction, he further stated that the dynamics within the national team. He revealed that players, who stay insecure about their future are often given a longer run in the side if they are close to the captain and the team management. 

“It is like if you are on good terms with the captain and team management then you will probably get a proper run in all formats to prove your worth. If you don’t have close relations with them then you are in and out,” Junaid said.

Junaid, now 31, played 22 Tests, 76 Tests, and 8 T20 matches. He picked up nearly 180 wickets and hasn’t represented his country since May 2019.

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