Junaid Khan to replace Mohammad Irfan for the ODI series in Australia

Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan has been included in the Pakistan squad for the ODI series against Australia as a replacement for Mohammad Irfan after the latter headed back to Pakistan following his mother’s demise early on Monday. Speaking to the Express Tribune, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Junaid Khan who last played for the Men in Green in 2015 will leave for Australia on Tuesday.

This is a huge opportunity for the speedster to make his presence felt in the Pakistan team again. The 27-year-old youngster has represented the national team in 52 ODIs, 22 Tests and 9 T20Is and has collectively taken more than 150 wickets across three formats. While Junaid expressed his grief over Irfan’s loss but he felt he finally got his chance due to his hard work and dedication.

“We are all sad on the death of Irfan’s mother,” said Junaid. “But this is a chance for me to prove myself and my fitness in Australia. This is a great moment for me and right now I am having the same feeling like I was selected for the first time. Getting back in the national team after such a long gap is a big achievement and I believe Allah has given a payback for my hard work.

“My performances have been constant and that’s why I got the chance against to prove myself for the national side,” he added.

Also read: Mohammad Irfan flies back home following mother’s death

Speaking about the prospects of facing Australia Junaid said his target is to support his teammates and continue performing well. “I will try to perform well in Australia,” he said. “Australian pitches are bit different but I am confident that I can put match winning performance there.

“It’s a team sport and I am sure I will get support from the captain and the fellow bowlers. I believe in putting my best and the rest is my fate,” Junaid concluded.