Junaid wants to fill Aamer's void
Rookie paceman Junaid Khan Tuesday said he wanted to fill the void
left in Pakistan's pace attack by the absence of his close friend and
one-time bowling partner Mohammad Aamer.
The 21-year-old took a maiden five-wicket haul to help Pakistan
dismiss Sri Lanka for a low score of 197 on the opening day of the first
Test at Abu Dhabi stadium.
"I will do my best to fill the void and do as well as my team needs,"
said Khan, whose 5-38 rocked the formidable Sri Lankan batting. "I am
delighted with my effort but all the bowlers did well as no one man can
get a team out."
Khan hails from Abbottabad in North-Western Pakistan, a town where
Osama Bin Laden was killed by American Special Forces in May this year,
played most of his cricket with Aamer.
Talented
The duo, both left-arm pacemen, toured various countries with
Pakistan junior teams between 2005 and 2009 before the more talented
Aamer was picked for Pakistan's seniors.
Khan said the pitch at Abu Dhabi stadium was responsive.
"There was a little bit of seam early but otherwise, I used the
yorker and mixed the bowling up and it's pleasing to get them out for a
low score," said Khan, who hoped Pakistan put up 300-350 for a winning
lead.
Khan got just one wicket on his debut Test, against Zimbabwe last
month.
Khan said legendary Pakistan pacemen Imran Khan and Wasim Akram were
his idols but he developed into a good bowler only under Waqar Younis's
coaching.
"I am quite lucky that way. During the World Cup (2011), there was
Aaqib Javed and Waqar and alongside them Wasim also gave tips when he
came on how to bowl. I started playing cricket only after watching Imran.
"When I went to Lancashire, Wasim used to call me and tell me how to
bowl, how to use the conditions," said Khan. "That stint was very
helpful. I learnt there how to seam, how to swing the ball, how to bowl
a yorker."
Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who topscored with 52 not out,
was disappointed with the overall batting performance.
Disappointed
"We lost our way in the second session and the batsmen did not bat
well.
"The second session made a huge difference where we lost six wickets
in four five overs and that was bad," said Mathews, who added 54 for the
eighth wicket with Suranga Lakmal (18).
Mathews denied the pitch was difficult for batting on.
"It was a pretty good batting wicket. Whoever hits the wicket hard
had a bit off a nip off the wicket.
"All in all it was a very good wicket and Khan did hit the deck hard
and got the reward," said Mathews.
"Obviously it's the first day of the Test match and we have got four
days left. I strongly believe that our bowlers can still get us back
into the game," said Mathews, whose fifty was his fourth in the last
five innings. ABU DHABI, Wednesday (AFP) |